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 48
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of the organizers of the Composite Brick Company, of Brighton, manufacturers of brick, cement and concrete blocks, was elected its first president, and still is the executive head of the company. He aided in organizing the Elmendorf Realty Com- pany, of which he is vice-president, and is vice-president of the Genesee Valley Realty Company. While his business in- terests have brought him a degree of prominence, his disposition prefers the quiet walks of life, home and friends con- stituting his greatest enjoyments.
A Republican in politics, Mr. Knapp has ever taken active interest in public affairs, but has never sought nor accepted public office. He lends the weight of his influence to any movement that promises the advancement of the public good and in all things meets the requirements of good citizenship. He is a Mason of high degree, belonging to Genesee Falls Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Ionic Chap- ter, Royal Arch Masons; Cyrene Com- mandery, Knights Templar; and Damas- cus Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. In Scottish Rite Masonry he has attained the thirty-second degree, Rochester Con- sistory. He is also a member of Key- stone Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of Flower City Lodge, Knights of Pythias. For two years he was president of the Rochester Carpen- ters' Association.
Mr. Knapp married, in 1894, Mary E., daughter of Joseph Graham, of Corning, New York. Their children are: Emma J. and Mildred H.
HAMILTON, R. Andrew,
Retired Business Man, Public Official.
Leadership in more than one line is sel- dom vouchsafed to an individual, but R. Andrew Hamilton, who to a considerable extent has retired from active business
life, yet gives personal supervision to his invested interests, which are extensive and valuable, has aided largely in mold- ing public thought and opinion in busi- ness, political and social circles. En- dowed by nature with strong mentality, he has carefully prepared for every duty devolving upon him, and with a sense of conscientious obligation he has met every requirement and responsibility.
R. Andrew Hamilton was born in Rochester, New York, February 11, 1873, son of the Rev. Gavin L. Hamilton, a native of Scotland, born in 1831, came to the United States in 1840, died in 1911. In early manhood Rev. Gavin L. Hamil- ton married Catherine Semple, a native of Scotland, came to the United States in 1840, a sister of A. M. Semple, who for many years was a leading grocer of Rochester, so continuing in business up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1886. Mrs. Hamilton died in 1891. In addition to R. Andrew Hamilton there is a daughter of the family living at the present time, Mrs. R. C. Watson, who re- sides at No. 252 Alexander street, Roches- ter.
In early boyhood R. Andrew Hamilton became a student in the public schools of his native city, passed through consecu- tive grades, and his more advanced edu- cation was acquired in the University of Rochester, from which he was graduated in the class of 1895. The following year he began his business career as the pro- prietor of the Semple Retail Grocery Store, located on Main street, East, which he continued to conduct with a large de- gree of success until the year 1906 when he leased the store. After the death of his uncle, A. M. Semple, and prior to his taking charge of the business, the store was conducted by W. E. Woodbury. Since his retirement from mercantile pur- suits, Mr. Hamilton has been devoting his
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time and attention to the supervision of his real estate and other interests, in the management of which he displays ex- cellent business ability, keen foresight and strong determination, characteristics which make for success in any field of en- deavor. In the spring of 1907 he was elected a director of the Rochester Trust and Safe Deposit Company, in which ca- pacity his value as a man of worth and in- telligence has often been proven and his judgment often tested. He has also taken an active interest in political affairs, and is thoroughly alive to all that pertains to good citizenship, affiliating himself with whatever has a tendency to permanently benefit his locality. He was elected a member of the Common Council in 1909, representing the Twelfth Ward, and as a reward for faithful service was reëlected in 1911 and 1913, and during his entire tenure of office promoted the interests of his constituents in every way possible. He resigned from this office in order to accept the office of commissioner of pub- lic safety of Rochester, being chosen from many applicants as the man best quali- fied for this responsible position, which fact is ample evidence of his popularity and efficiency. Mr. Hamilton is an inter- ested and active member of the Central Church of Rochester, has served on the board of trustees since 1897 and has been secretary of the board since 1899. In Masonry he has taken both the Scottish and York Rite degrees, being a member of Rochester Consistory, Monroe Com- mandery and the Mystic Shrine, and is in hearty sympathy with the teachings and tenets of the craft, in his life exemplifying its beneficent principles. He is a mem- ber of the Rochester Whist Club, the Uni- versity Club and the Rochester Automo- bile Club, being highly esteemed in all organizations. He is courteous, genial and obliging, and these qualities render
him very popular, so that his circle of friends is very extensive.
Mr. Hamilton married, October 23, 1901, Mae Ward, a daughter of Joseph Ward, of Rochester, and they are the parents of three children, namely: Ward Lindsay, Robert Andrew, Jr., and Charles Watson.
Such is the brief career of one who has achieved not only honorable success and high standing among men, but whose en- tire life has been irreproachably correct, so that his character is above suspicion. His life record demonstrates the fact that success depends not upon circumstances or environments, but upon the man, and the prosperous citizen is he who is able to recognize and improve his opportuni- ties.
GOFF, Frank M.,
Lawyer.
The ancestry of Frank M. Goff, of the Rochester bar, carries far into the past and to the mountains of Wales from whence came Robert Goff to Rehoboth, Massachusetts, where according to the records of that town he married Hannah Horton, May 8, 1733.
(II) Their son, Comfort Goff, born in Rehoboth, September 25, 1734, died in the town of Rush, Monroe county, New York, in 1819. He married, January 20, 1757, Susannah, daughter of Seth and Bethia (Lee) Garnzey, and the same year moved to Colchester, Connecticut, where he owned and cultivated a farm on the Cole- brook road which he conveyed to Na- thaniel Russell in 1784. In later years he joined his sons in Rush, Monroe county. These sons were: Charles, Comfort, Enoch, Garnzey, Squire, of further men- tion, and Samuel D.
(III) Squire Goff (known as Elder Goff) was born about 1762, died in Can-
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ada in 1825. In 1803 James Wadsworth, as agent for Jeremiah Wadsworth, who was the owner of five thousand acres in the town of Rush, Monroe county, New York, prosecuted a system for exchang- ing these wild lands for farms, "when their occupants would become settlers." While on such a mission to Connecticut he met Elder Squire Goff, then the pas- tor of a small church at Hartford, and unfolded to him his plan to induce emi- gration to Monroe county. He offered Elder Goff such attractive inducements that he made the journey to Rush to "spy out the land." He was so pleased with the lands that he purchased one hundred and thirty acres for himself at four dollars and thirty cents per acre and returned to Connecticut to form a colony. In the spring of 1804 he returned to Rush with his five brothers and their father, also with ten other families, all settling in the locality known as "Gofftown." Here was founded the original Goff family in Mon- roe county and here was built the first Baptist church with a settled pastor in what we now know as Monroe county. Elder Squire Goff preached at the dif- ferent houses in the settlement until 1806, when Mr. Wadsworth donated four acres of land in the town called "The Square" and on it was erected a frame building, the lumber being obtained from "Nor- ton's Mills," now Honeoye Falls. That building served as a house of worship and school house until 1830, Elder Squire Goff ministering as pastor until 1816, when he moved to Lewistown, Connecti- cut. He married (first) Experience Brainerd, (second) Eunice (Brainerd) Rowley, his first wife's sister and widow of Samuel Rowley. He was the father of fourteen children, of whom the second was Roswell.
(IV) Roswell Goff was born in 1786 in Connecticut, died in the State of Michi-
gan in 1834. He came to Rush with his father, grandfather, uncles, cousins and neighbors in 1804 and resided at Goff- town until his removal to Michigan. He married (first) Fanny Davis, (second) Betsey, daughter of Elias Thompson, (third) Eunice Billings. He was the father of four children by his first wife, two by his second and seven by his third.
(V) Henry Haight Goff, eldest son of Roswell Goff by his second wife, Betsey (Thompson) Goff, was born at Henrietta, Monroe county, New York, in 1821, died at Spencerport, New York, August 9, 1896. He was a school teacher in early life, one of the very first teachers at the Western House of Refuge, now known as the New York State Industrial School. Later he became a landowning farmer and a dealer in farm produce, so continuing until his death in August, 1904, a man honored and esteemed by all. He mar- ried, March 17, 1850, Sarah E. Wright, of equally early Monroe county family, a descendant of the New England family which produced many noted men includ- ing the Revolutionary patriot, Colonel Ethan Allen, whose capture of the fort- ress at Ticonderoga, New York, and his other brave deeds at the head of the Green Mountain Boys immortalized his name. Mrs. Sarah E. Goff died in 1898. leaving two sons, Frank M. and Ben- ton H.
(VI) Frank M. Goff, son of Henry H. and Sarah E. (Wright) Goff, was born at Spencerport, Monroe county, New York. December 22, 1851, and until recent years retained his residence in the village of his birth. His youth was spent at the home farm, in attendance at the public schools and in more advanced study at the Brock- port State Normal School. After gradu- ation from Normal in 1870 he spent two years at the University of Rochester ; took a course in Bryant & Stratton's Busi-
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ness College, and in 1873 began the study ciety, and the Society of the Genesee, his standing in the various organizations that of an interested member who may be called upon for any service to advance their interest and add to their usefulness, either as social centers, or educational agencies. He is public-spirited and loyal of law. Three years later, in 1876, he was admitted to the Monroe county bar, and from that year has been constantly in practice in Rochester, his offices 838 Pow- ers building. There is deep satisfaction for Mr. Goff in a retrospective view of those twenty years and in comparing his . to community interests, but strictly as a few professional engagements of the citizen, public office having no part in his plans.
early days with the full docket of to-day, and in realizing that it has been his own strength as a lawyer and his devotion to the best tenets of his profession that has brought the change. The law is right- fully termed one of the learned profes- sions, but more than learning is required to produce the successful lawyer or jurist, character and temperament must go hand in hand with learning, and a confidence established for integrity and courtesy be- fore intellectual attainment is given op- portunity. These qualities brought Mr. Goff his early clients and so well did he prove his learning and skill in those early years that success came to him abun- dantly. He is a worker, a deep student of all that concerns a case, is thorough in his preparation, ready with law and prece- dent, a logical reasoner and a strong ad- vocate. Of genial, friendly manner, cour- teous to both court and opponent, he holds the attention of a jury and with eloquent, graceful speech presents to them his side of the contention. He is a member of the bar association, practices in all State and Federal courts of the district, serving a large and influential clientele with zealous devotion.
He is of eminently social nature and he mingles with his many friends in social and fraternal association. He belongs to the different Masonic bodies of Rochester, and in Scottish Rite Masonry has gained the thirty-second degree. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic Club, the Rochester Whist Club, the Rochester Historical So-
Mr. Goff married, September 18, 1877, Clara B. Brown, of Spencerport. They have two children, Louise Loomis A. and William F. The family home at Spencer- port has been recently changed to No. 191 Seneca Parkway, Rochester.
TOTTEN, John Reynolds,
Retired Military Officer, Author.
Captain John R. Totten inherits the true American patriotic spirit from vari- ous ancestors. His father, General James Totten, was born September 11, 1818, at Cincinnati, Ohio, and died October I, 1871, at Sedalia, Missouri. He graduated from the West Point Military Academy in 1841 and served at various posts in the United States in both the Mexican and Civil wars; and was lieutenant-colonel and inspector-general of the United States army. He married, December 5, 1843, at New London, Connecticut, Julia Hub- bell Thacher, born March 6, 1823, at New London, died there January 31, 1906. She was descended from the Rev. Peter Thacher, born about 1549, at Queen Camel, County Somerset, England, died there in 1624. He was vicar of the Church of England from 1574 to 1624, and was the father of Hon. Antony Thacher, born 1588-89, in Queen Camel, died in 1667, at Yarmouth, Massachusetts. He resided for some time at Salisbury, England, came to Boston on the ship "James," arriving June 4, 1635, lived at
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Marblehead, later at Yarmouth, Massa- chusetts, was deputy to the general court of Plymouth, and a member of the colo- nial council of war. His first wife, Mary, died in 1634, at Salisbury, and he mar- ried (second) in February, 1735, Elizabeth Jones. They were the parents of Colo- nel John Thacher, born March 17, 1639, at Marblehead, Massachusetts, died May 8, 1713, at Yarmouth. He was deputy and assistant in the General Court of the Plymouth Colony, assistant in the com- monwealth of Massachusetts, justice of the peace, and colonel in the military service. He married, November 6, 1661, in Marshfield, Massachusetts, Rebecca Winslow, born there July 15, 1643, died July 15, 1683, at Yarmouth. Their son, Deacon Josiah Thacher, was born April 26, 1668, at Yarmouth, died there May 12, 1702. He was long deacon of the church there, and was married there, February 25, 1691, to Mary Hedge, born there in March, 1671. Captain Josiah Thacher, their youngest son, was born July 7, 1701, at Yarmouth, followed the sea, be- coming captain of a vessel, and settled at Norwalk, Connecticut, where he became a large landowner, and died August 22, 1780. He married (second) in 1635, at Boston, Mary (Greenleaf) Blinn, widow of James Blinn, born 1706, at Cambridge, Massachusetts, died in April, 1774, at Norwalk. They were the parents of Cap- tain John Thacher, born July 25, 1742, at Norwalk, lived in that town, in New Mil- ford and settled at Stratford, Connecticut. He commanded a company in the Revolu- tionary War, was wounded and taken prisoner at Valcour's Island, October II, 1776, paroled and exchanged and con- tinued in the service. He married (sec- ond) in 1777-78, at Stratford, Mehitable (Ufford) Thompson, widow of Lieuten- ant William Thompson, born March 16, 1745, at Stratford, died September 6, 1807,
in Litchfield, Connecticut. He died at Stratford, January 16, 1805. Their sec- ond son, Anthony Thacher, was born Jan- uary 7, 1782, at Stratford, and lived at New London, Connecticut, where he was cashier of the New London Bank, and died December 26, 1844. He married, February 24, 1806, at New London, Lu- cretia Christophers Mumford, born Au- gust 10, 1785, at Salen1, Connecticut, died April 6, 1871, in New London. Their fifth daughter, Julia Hubbell Thacher, was born March 6, 1823, in New London, and became the wife of General James Tot- ten, as above related. Their youngest child is the subject of this biography.
John Reynolds Totten was born No- vember 4, 1856, at Barrancas Barracks, Pensacola, Florida, where his father was then stationed. He received a liberal edu- cation, being a student at the Episcopal Academy of Cheshire, Connecticut, and was graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, in the class of 1878. He graduated from the United States Artillery School at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, in 1882, and was assigned to service in the First United States Infantry as second lieuten- ant. He was successively second lieuten- ant and first lieutenant in the Fourth United States Artillery, served with the army of the United States from June 14 to August 28, 1878, at West Point, as in- structor of tactics. From June, 1878 to 1879, he was stationed at Fort Hale, Da- kota, and for about a year at Alcatraz Island, in San Francisco Harbor. From May 1, 1880 to 1882 he was at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, and at Fort Preble, Maine, from May 1, 1882 to 1884. He then became instructor in French and English at the West Point Military Acad- emy, and assistant professor of Spanish from 1884 to 1889. On October I of the latter year he was stationed at Fort
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Adams, Rhode Island, and was attached to a light battery. He resigned from the army October 1, 1890, to take effect April I, 1891. Since that time he has resided in New York City, and has given much at- tention to literary work, especially in his- torical and genealogical matters. He has long been an officer of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society as trustee and chairman of its executive com- mittee, and during much of the time as honorary librarian. Among his most notable works is the "Thacher-Thatcher Genealogy," which is still running in the "New York Genealogical and Biographi- cal Record." He is also the author of many general essays. He is a communi- cant of the Protestant Episcopal church, and adheres to the principles expounded by the Republican party in political mat- ters. He is affiliated with numerous patriotic societies, including the New York Society of Mayflower Descendants, Sons of the Revolution, Society of the Colonial Wars, New York Historic- Genealogical Society, New London Coun- ty Historical Association, United States Military Academy, Alumni Association, and of clubs, including the Army and Navy and New York Athletic. He was married, at Garrison-on-Hudson, New York, September 5, 1889, to Elma Smythe (Preston) Van Voorhis, widow of Arthur Van Voorhis.
ALEXANDER, De Alva S., Lawyer, Legislator, Author.
De Alva Stanwood Alexander, of hon- orable esteem in the field of politics and, of even higher distinction in that of letters, was born in Richmond, Maine, July 17, 1845, the son of Stanwood and Priscilla (Brown) Alexander. On the paternal side, he is the eighth in descent from Philip Stanwood, who came from England to Gloucester, Massachusetts, in
1652 and, in the seventh from David Alexander who, migrating from Ulster, Ireland, settled at Harpswell, Maine, in 1719. He is eighth, in the maternal line, from George and Mary (Murdock) Brown, who came from England to Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1635.
Alexander's elementary education was obtained in the common schools of his native town. His father dying, he re- moved, when thirteen years old, to Ohio, with his mother; and, in 1862, with his heart in the Union cause, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment (infantry) Ohio Volunteers, serving until the close of the war. There- after, he returned to his native State and entered Bowdoin College, from which he was graduated in 1870, a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, with a fine record as a scholar, especially in the English branches. He is a loyal son of Bowdoin and, honoring it, has by it been honored, receiving the Master's degree in 1873 and that of Doctor of Laws in 1907 and has for years been one of its board of overseers. Soon succeeding gradu- ation, Alexander again went a westering, seeking an opportunity for the employ- ment of his maturing powers and after teaching in Fort Wayne, Indiana, for a time, found it in journalism, in that city in 1871, as one of the proprietors and editors of the "Daily Gazette," already a leading Republican journal of the State. He at once made a mark by his thought- ful editorials, both of a political and literary cast, materially enhancing the prestige of the paper and attracting to himself the confidence and friendship of many of the leading politicians and pro- fessional men of the State, especially of Senator Oliver P. Morton, the famous war governor. In 1874, lie disposed of his interest in the Fort Wayne "Gazette" and took service as staff correspondent with the Cincinnati "Gazette," with resi-
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dence at Indianapolis. Meanwhile he acted as secretary of the Republican State Committee and studied law, being ad- mitted to the bar in 1877.
Thus, dropping his pen as a journalist, which he did not resume for nearly thirty years, and then as an author, he engaged actively and successfully in the practice of his profession for the ensuing four years, at Indianapolis, still maintaining a lively interest in politics. In 1881, upon the recommendation of Senator Benja- min Harrison, always Alexander's friend, he was appointed, by President Garfield, an auditor in the treasury department. serving under Secretaries Windom, Fol- ger, McCulloch and Manning; his re- tention by the last named being unusual and distinctly complimentary, as tendered by a political opponent and, as is under- stood, at the suggestion of President Cleveland. This is emphatic testimony to the intelligence and fidelity with which Alexander had discharged his highly re- sponsible trust. While residing at the national capital he was elected com- mander of the Department of the Poto- mac, Grand Army of the Republic. At the expiration of his term as auditor, he removed to Buffalo, thus becoming a citi- zen of New York, and formed a law part- nership with the Hon. James A. Roberts, his college class and fraternity mate, sub- sequently comptroller of the State. In June, 1889, Alexander was appointed United States district attorney for the Northern District of New York, by Presi- dent Harrison, embracing what are now the northern and western districts. This appointment was objected to in certain quarters because, as alleged, his brief residence in the district did not entitle him to such marked political recognition and that it must, therefore, be regarded as a purely personal appointment on the part of the President who was firm in asserting his prerogative, for he knew his
man and that his official conduct would vindicate his preferment; as it certainly did. The arduous labors of the office, in- volving an exact knowledge of the law and integrity and courage in enforcing its sanctions, were duly fulfilled, demon- strating his legal ability and also induc- ing a full measure of public esteem. He held the place until December, 1893.
Devoting the next three years to the private practice of his profession he con stantly increased in political strength and popular favor and was in 1896 elected a representative in Congress from the Buffalo district, remaining as such for fourteen years consecutively - among the longest tenures accorded to a New York member. In Congress throughout he assumed a commanding stand, especi- ally active and influential on the judici- ary committee. He aided in drafting the important bills reported by the commit- tee, for twelve years, and usually sup- ported them in the house by speeches, long or short, as occasion demanded. He was chairman of rivers and harbors, and as such bore the burden of the work in committee and upon the floor. It is sig- nificant that he never lost a bill that he reported from either committee. Withi a positive "genius for friendship," his bearing - frank, cordial, cheery - won the regard of all and the affection of many of his colleagues; as his helpful offices rendered him extremely popular with his constituency. Political life, on its higher plane, always seemed to him a worthy ambition, and his time and thought, outside of his profession, have been subject to the demand of his party on the stump and in the work of organi- zation ; but while a partisan, he has not believed in party success at the cost of principle ; and has uniformly identified himself with clean politics.
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