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. 3 > Part 22
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cessful assertion of party principles at the polls is no less worthy of the regard of his fellow men than he who leads men to an assertion of national honor upon actual fields of battle. "Peace hath her vic- tories" as well as war, and peaceful vindi- cation of party principles through the medium of the ballot box requires gen- eralship of the highest quality.
SNOW, Charles Wesley, Financier, Man of Affairs.
The men most influential in promoting the advancement of society and in giving character to the times in which they live are of two classes-the men of study and the men of action. Whether we are more indebted for the improvement of the age to the one class or to the other is a ques- tion of honest difference of opinion ; neither class can be spared and both should be encouraged to occupy their several spheres of labor and influence, zealously and without mutual distrust. In the following paragraphs are briefly outlined the leading facts and character- istics in the career of a gentleman, Charles Wesley Snow, who combines in his makeup the elements of the scholar and the energy of the public-spirited man of affairs. He is essentially cosmopolitan in his ideas, and a representative of that strong American manhood which com- mands and retains respect by reason of inherent merit, sound sense and correct conduct. Measured by the accepted standard of excellence, his career has been eminently honorable and useful, and his life fraught with great good to human- ity and to the world at large. Hiram Snow, his father, died in Syracuse in 1854, and his mother, Alidar Ann (Squier) Snow, died in the same city in 1889. They had twelve children.
Charles Wesley Snow was born in Peterboro, Madison county, New York,
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March II, 1835, the second child of his parents. He was still in infancy when his parents removed to Messina Springs, and was in his sixth year when the family home was established in Syracuse, New York, with which city practically his en- tire life has been identified. The public schools of Syracuse furnished him with excellent educational advantages, and he made the best use of his opportunities in them. At the age of fifteen years he en- tered upon his business career by becom- ing a clerk in the employ of W. B. Tobey, the proprietor of a drug store. Four years were spent in such faithful dis- charge of the numerous and responsible duties of this position, that at the end of this period, 1854, Mr. Tobey admitted him to a partnership, the firm continuing the business under the style of Tobey & Snow until 1866. In that year, Mr. Snow, desiring to be unhampered in the pursuit of his progressive ideas in regard to the conduct of a business, decided to estab- lish himself independently, and accord- ingly opened a drug store at old No. 28 East Genesee street. In the course of time this became a wholesale as well as a retail concern, and was actively con- ducted in the same location for a period of twenty-two years. In the meantime, Mr. Snow had purchased the property at Nos. 214-216 South Warren street and erected in 1888 the lofty brick and iron fireproof structure, which housed the drug business of C. W. Snow & Com- pany. From the time of its first estab- lishment the business had grown steadily and consistently, branching out over an extensive territory in addition to having a large local trade. This, however, is not the only business enterprise with which Mr. Snow is prominently connected. Since 1887 he has been a member of the board of directors of the First National Bank of Syracuse, and in 1902 was hon- ored with the vice-presidency of this in-
stitution; he served in this office until 1910, and in February of that year was elected president of this bank, remaining the incumbent of this office until his resignation in November, 1914, when he was elected chairman of the board. For many years he has been a member of the board of trustees of the Onondaga Coun- ty Savings Bank. He has also served as president of the Chamber of Commerce of Syracuse. His religious affiliation is with the Unitarian church, of which he is a member and trustee, and his con- nection with various benevolent and char- itable institutions is a prominent and ex- tensive one, as he gives his personal serv- ice as well as of his means.
Mr. Snow married, October 20, 1863, Harriet L. Powers, only daughter of Dr. Nelson C. Powers. Children: Nelson P., born December 9, 1868; Carrie L., Octo- ber 15, 1874. In the public issues and questions of the day Mr. Snow takes an intelligent interest, but his political activ- ity is confined to his exercise of the right of franchise. His is the story of a life whose success is measured by its useful- ness-a life that has made for good in all its relations with the world. Always calm and dignified, never demonstrative, his life is, nevertheless, a persistent plea, more by precept and example than by spoken word, for purity and grandeur of right principles and the beauty and eleva- tion of wholesome character. To him home life is a sacred trust, friendship is inviolable, and nothing can swerve him from the path of rectitude and honor.
SALISBURY, Bert Eugene, Manufacturer, Inventor, Financier.
Bert Eugene Salisbury, who by con- secutive steps has steadily climbed up- ward in the business world until he is at the present time (1916) president and general manager of Pass & Seymour, In-
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corporated, at Solvay, Onondaga county, New York, was born in the town of Geddes, New York, May 28, 1870, son of Henry O. and Celia (Seaman) Salisbury. Henry O. Salisbury was also a native of Onondaga county, New York, and his wife a native of Connecticut, living at the present time. The father was a builder and contractor, and was well known be- cause of his business enterprises and the extent of his industrial interests. He died in 1891.
Bert Eugene Salisbury pursued his early education in the Geddes Union Free School, now Porter School, and was graduated from the Syracuse High School with the class of 1890. He also attended Cazenovia Seminary for a short period of time, but in the meantime was em- ployed by the Solvay Process Company and also in the drug business. Later he entered the employ of his father, which connection continued until February, 1891, when he became connected with the firm of Pass & Seymour, where he has risen gradually to his present impor- tant position, his promotions coming to him in recognition of merit and ability displayed in the mastery of the various tasks and duties assigned him. He was serving as superintendent when in 1901 he was made secretary and general man- ager; in January, 1906, he was elected to the positions of vice-president, treas- urer, and general manager, and in Janu- ary, 1914, was made president and gen- eral manager, in which capacities he is still serving. He has been instrumental in in- troducing the manufacture of various com- plete and successful articles now produced by the concern. Thoroughness, which has characterized him in everything that he has undertaken, has brought to him inti- mate knowledge of the business in prin- ciple and detail, and, recognizing needs and possibilities he has carried forward experiments and investigations until his
labors have resulted in inventions, upon which he has taken out many patents. The trademark of the company is P. & S. and the products of the factory are disposed of through the regular channels. Four hundred workmen are now em- ployed, and the business is constantly growing along substantial lines that in- sure its future success and progress. In addition to this he became a director of the Onondaga Pottery Company, of Syracuse, New York, and three years later was elected president and treasurer of the concern, succeeding James Pass. The product of this company combines the beauty of historic porcelain with the durability made possible by modern sci- ence, and the great advantage of this company's china is that its composition and the qualities of its materials are al- most exactly the same as those used in the world-famous potteries of Conti- nental Europe. The china is really a product combining the best in the older materials and processes in order to pro- duce a new and better china that is dis- tinctively American. The result is that there is no fine table china on the market to-day that will compare with O. P. Co. Syracuse China for durability and serv- ice. He is a director of the First Na- tional Bank, Syracuse; director of the Morris Plan Bank, Syracuse ; member of the board of governors of Associated Manufacturers of Electrical Supplies ; member of the Chamber of Commerce; president of the Billy Sunday Business Men's Club of Syracuse ; trustee of Syra- cuse University, Cazenovia Seminary, the Central New York Methodist Epis- copal Conference, and the Myrtle Hill Cemetery ; vice-president of the Young Men's Christian Association ; and a mem- ber of the Efficiency Society of New York, the American Ceramic Society, the New York State Ceramic Society, the Electrical Manufacturers' Club, the En-
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gineers' Club of New York, the Jovian Order, the Technology Club, the Citizens' Club, the Onondaga Golf and Country Club, Bellevue Country Club, Chamber of Commerce of the United States, and the Mystic Krewe. He also holds mem- bership in and is a trustee of the West Genesee Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a Republican, but aside from keeping well informed on the questions and issues of the day and supporting the party by his ballot, he takes no active interest in political affairs. Mr. Salis- bury finds in photography a favorite form of recreation, and also greatly enjoys boating. He has, however, concentrated his energies upon his business interests, and believing that integrity and straight- forward dealing can go hand in hand with success has worked to that end, and his own life record is verification of this be- lief.
Mr. Salisbury married, December 3, 1895, Mary P. Pharis, of Syracuse, New York, a daughter of Mills P. and Eliza A. Pharis. Their children are: Kather- ine, born February 13, 1905; Robert, born December 25, 1906; Henry, born October 5, 1908; William, born June 20, 1911. The city residence of the family is at No. 1810 West Genesee street, Syra- cuse, and their summer home is located on Fourth Lake in the Adirondacks.
WHITMORE, Valentine F., Building Contractor, Public Official.
The great works now necessary to sup- ply municipalities and corporations with the means properly to meet their needs employ a vast army of workmen who must be organized and directed by men of superior executive ability, by men who can themselves grasp the problems of construction presented them by engi- neers, by men who can plan and success- fully execute the work. The engineers
plan without regard to the difficulty of the work; the contractor must execute according to the plan, regardless of rock, quicksand, flood, scarcity of labor, or fail- ure of supplies. Valentine F. Whitmore grew up amid such problems, and from the age of fifteen years has been engaged on public works of importance, beginning as a water boy, and now is the honored head of the Whitmore, Rauber & Vicin- us Contracting Company, of Rochester. He acquired experience as a working man, rose to authority as superintendent, and when, in 1868, he entered the con- tracting field, there was no man better equipped to handle important construc- tion work. He has won success as a builder, as a business man, and as an executive, and has to his credit some of the largest Western New York contracts successfully executed, this being particu- larly true in the city of Rochester.
Valentine F. Whitmore was born in Germany, September 17, 1844, and was brought to the United States by his par- ents in 1849. His first American home was in Syracuse and there until he was fifteen years of age he attended the public schools. He then became a wage earner, his first job being as water boy on public works in Syracuse. As he grew in years and experience he obtained more respon- sible positions, and after locating in Rochester in 1863 became superintendent of construction on the Erie Canal. He was ambitious, and when opportunity offered to obtain a contract to repair a section of the canal he embraced it. He continued in canal work under Lewis Selye until 1868, then definitely engaged in business for himself as a general con- tractor. He was successful in securing some good contracts, which he satisfac- torily executed, continuing in business alone until January 1, 1875, when he en- tered into partnership with John Rauber (now deceased) and William Vicinus.
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As a partnership, greater expansion was possible, but later, more capital and leaders being necessary, the business was incorporated with Valentine F. Whit- more, president; John N. Ranber, vice- president ; Lewis S. Whitmore, treasurer, and William Vicinus, secretary. The record of Mr. Whitmore as individual contractor, partner and chief executive has been one of success and his business one of constant growth. He has executed some of the largest of Western New York contracts, but a great part of his work and that of his company has been in connection with the public improvements of Rochester. Among their important works of these years may be cited the Rochester Water Works conduit, twenty- six and one half miles in length, three feet four inches in diameter; Central avenue concrete bridge; a large section of the East Side trunk sewer; a section of the disposal sewer ; miles of streets and con- necting sewers. The company owns ex- tensive limestone quarries and are also contractors of cutstone and interior mar- ble work, and dealers in masons' supplies. Mr. Whitmore has other important busi- ness interests, being president of the Rochester German Brick and Tile Com- pany, is vice-president and a director of the Merchants' Bank, director of the East Side Savings Bank and of the Genesee Valley Trust Company.
A Republican in politics, he has always taken an active, influential part in public affairs. For four years he served as school commissioner and for four years was a member of the board of aldermen. His official record shows the same thor- ough and business-like devotion to public duty that has characterized his conduct of his private affairs, and city interests have ever been held paramount. Broad- minded and progressive, he is very de- liberate in forming his opinions and plans, but most determined when a plan of ac-
tion has been decided upon. He possesses a sympathetic, kindly nature, is most ap- preciative of the good traits of others, knows the value of friendships, and ever remembers that "to have a friend one must be one."
Mr. Whitmore married, February 21, 1867, Ennice L. Haight. Their children are: Lewis S., Walter V., Eunice, mar- ried William H. Vicinus; Homer G. All his sons and his son-in-law are engaged with him in business, Lewis S. Whitmore being treasurer, William H. Vicinus, sec- retary, of the Whitmore, Rauber & Vicin- us Company, incorporated in 1904.
MEANY, Edward P., Lawyer, Man of Affairs.
Brevet Major-General Edward P. Meany was born in Louisville, Kentucky, May 13, 1854, son of the late Judge Edward A. and Maria Lavinia (Shannon) Meany, of English and Trish ancestry. For many years his father, Judge Edward A. Meany, was conspicuously identified with the jurisprudence of the South, having previ- ously attained an honored position on the bench and at the bar. His family in- cluded Captain John Meany, a distin- guished citizen of Philadelphia, Pennsy.1- vania. He was also related on the ma- ternal side to Commodore Barry, of Phil- adelphia, one of the founders of the United States Navy, to whom President Washington presented the first commis- sion to any officer of the navy created under the Constitution-"Captain," this being the highest rank conferred at that time. Commodore Barry has been con- sidered by many naval historians as the Father of the American Navy. Maria Lavinia (Shannon) Meany, mother of General Meany, was a daughter of Henry Gould Shannon, who settled at Louis- ville, Kentucky, in 1810, and was among the leading citizens of that city.
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As a youth General Meany was studi- ous and ambitious, and after making ex- cellent progress in the schools of his na- tive State, he completed the course of the St. Louis University at St. Louis, Mis- souri. Under the careful and thorough direction of his father he was prepared for the practice of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1878. For many years he was counsel for the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, and held other positions of confidence and responsibility with associated corporations. His legal and financial abilities were in demand, and he became a director of important railway, financial and other corporations. As vice-president of the New Mexico Central & Southern Railway Company, he represented that company in 1884 be- fore the government of Mexico, and in financial circles of Europe, and his diplo- matic and legal talents served the com- pany well in his intercourse with the gov- ernment of the Republic of Mexico in 1884. General Meany is still identified with various business interests, being vice-president and director of the Trust Company of New Jersey; a director of the Colonial Life Insurance Company of America; the National Bank of Morris- town, New Jersey; the Cartaret Trust Company ; the Laurel Coal & Land Com- pany, and Pond Fork Coal & Land Com- pany of West Virginia.
In 1886 he moved to New Jersey, where he soon joined the National Guard. In 1893 he was appointed judge advocate general of New Jersey, with the rank of brigadier-general, and in the following year was made one of the Palisade com- missioners of the State of New Jersey, a body formed to preserve the natural scenery of the State on the banks of the Hudson river. For several years he acted as trustee and treasurer of the Newark Free Public Library. General Meany was reared under influences which naturally
led him to affiliate with the Democratic party, and he has always manfully sup- ported its principles. In the National Democratic Conventions of 1896 and 1900 he represented the State of New Jersey, and in both those bodies he earnestly sup- ported the principles of the old line De- mocracy, and vigorously protested against the abandonment by the party of those principles. His influence in the councils of the party in New Jersey is potent and widely felt, and he is esteemed and re- spected by all classes regardless of poli- tical affiliations, for his upright and man- ly course in standing by his principles. In 1914, upon his own request, General Meany was placed on the retired list of the National Guard of New Jersey, with the rank of brevet major-general. He is identified with many prominent clubs, in- cluding the Lawyers' Club, the Morris County Golf Club, the Morris County Country Club, the Whippany River Club, and the Morristown Club. Through his marriage to Rosalie, daughter of Peter Behr, Esq., of St. Louis, Missouri, Gen- eral Meany has now living a son, Shan- non Lord Meany.
MOULTON, Webster Collins, Architect.
Since the completion of his university course in 1912, Mr. Moulton has pursued his professional work in Syracuse, the city of his birth, with the exception of the time spent in New York City in con- nection with the Sage Foundation Homes Company. Although as yet young in his full honors as an architect, he has had opportunity to demonstrate his quality and is well-known as talented, capable and reliable. Moulton is a name well- known in the engineering world through the unusual activity of Guy Moulton, civil engineer of Syracuse, whose con- nection with railroad, water works and
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canal construction has been long con- tinued and important. The record of his honored father is an inspiration and a stimulant to the son and in a different but kindred field he aspires to achieve equally honorable reputation.
Guy Moulton, father of Webster Collins Moulton, was born in Cicero, Onondaga county, New York, February 25, 1861, son of Emery and Mary J. (Churchill) Moulton. He is a graduate of Cornell University, B. S., class of 1881, and since 1910 has been division engineer, Middle Division, New York State Canals. He began his engineering career in 1882 as assistant engineer with the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railroad Com- pany, beginning with the preliminary sur- vey and continuing until the completion of the road. He abandoned engineering in 1883 and until 1889 engaged in farm- ing, but in the latter year entered the em- ploy of the Lehigh Railroad Company as assistant engineer on the Lizard Creek branch in Pennsylvania, also building twelve miles of that branch. He was connected with the Buffalo extension of the same road in 1890-92 in the same ca- pacity, building twelve miles of the ex- tension and completing an additional twelve miles. In 1893 he improved and extended the Watkins Water System. During 1894 he was engaged in railway engineering in New York and Tennessee. He spent the years 1895-96 in Pennsyl- vania as engineer and general manager for a coal mining company and in Michi- gan as assistant engineer of the Jackson & Mackinaw railroad, also constructing a twelve-mile section of that road.
He began his connection with New York State canal construction in 1896 as engineer and general manager for Mc- Donald & Sayre, contractors of canal work under the Nine Millions Act, con- tinuing with that firm until 1897. In that year he was appointed first assistant engi-
neer of the Middle Division, New York State Canals, acting in that capacity until 1903, when he was advanced to the post of resident engineer on the Barge Canal project. He held that position until 1909, then became division engineer of the Middle Division, New York State Canals, and in 1910 first resident engineer of the Middle Division, which position he now holds.
He is a Republican in politics, trustee of the Universalist Society of Syracuse, member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Technology Club of Syra- cuse and belongs to both lodge and chap- ter of the Masonic order.
He married at Clay, Onondaga county, New York, March 16, 1887, Sara Adaline Wright. Children: Webster Collins, of further mention; Lloyd W .; and Guy W.
Webster Collins Moulton, eldest son of Guy and Sara Adaline (Wright) Moulton, was born in Syracuse, New York, No- vember 19, 1889. He obtained his pre- paratory education in the city schools, graduating from grammar school in June, 1904, and from high school with the class of June, 1908. He then pursued a four years' course at Syracuse University, whence he was graduated in the class of June, 1912. He had chosen architecture as his life work and until 1915 was engaged as draughtsman with Gordon Wright, architect of Syracuse, with the Sage Foun- dation Homes Company, New York, and with the city of Syracuse. In August, 1915, he first announced himself to the public as an architect, establishing offices in the Union Building, 441 Salina street, Syracuse. The public has responded to his claim to recognition and the year that has elapsed has been most satisfactory. During the summers of 1909 and 1911, while a student at the university, Mr. Moulton held civil service position with the city of Syracuse. He is a member of the First Universalist Church of Syra-
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cuse, the Technology, City and Ka-Ne- Enda Canoe clubs. He married, June 3, 1916, at Syracuse, Hazel Marie, daughter of Bernard and Lottie Sophia (Peck) Cohn.
NETTLETON, Albert E., Manufacturer, Financier.
The city of Syracuse, New York, is justly celebrated as a manufacturing cen- ter, and the business of manufacturing shoes is one of its most important indus- tries. Prominently identified with this particular branch of manufacture is Al- bert E. Nettleton, who is regarded as one of the conservative business men of the city, progressive and modern in all that he undertakes to do. The social and political affairs of the city are given their fair share of his attention, and he is an unostentatious yet generous patron of any plan that is afoot to better the cause of humanity.
For the greater part of a century, the name of Nettleton has been associated with the shoe trade in the State of New York. Edward Nettleton established one of the first boot and shoe stores in the village of Fulton, New York, about 1837, and personally and successfully con- ducted this until his death in 1864, when his sons, Franklin E. and Samuel W., succeeded him, and conducted affairs ac- cording to the most approved methods, and they in turn were succeeded by their brother, Augustus C. Nettleton.
Albert E. Nettleton, son of Edward Nettleton, was born in Fulton, Oswego county, New York, October 29, 1850. His early education was acquired in the public schools of that section, and this he later supplemented by attendance at the Falley Seminary, in Fulton, being graduated from this institution in the class of 1869. Upon the completion of his studies, he found employment in the business of his
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