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 9
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Clinton Pognes
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ness with their numerous customers. This in itself is a wonderful life work, . and had Mr. Rogers no other claim to place in the history of Rochester it would be sufficient. This, however, is but one of his entitling rights to the high place he holds in the esteem of his fellow-men. For nearly fifty years he was a director of the Traders' National Bank, and as one of the founders and members of the Cham- ber of Commerce has been an active worker in promoting measures and enter- prises resulting in the development of his city and in advancing the public good. Outside of the realm of business he has also borne well his part, and to St. Luke's Protestant Episcopal Church, the Roches- ter Historical Society, to charitable and philanthropic causes he has been a tower of strength. Extensive home and foreign travel has broadened his vision and now, far beyond man's allotted "three score and ten years", he is in the enjoyment of the mental and physical vigor that has characterized his useful life. He traces his ancestry to early Colonial New Eng- land days and to forbears who, as "minute- men" responded to the call to arms and at Lexington and Bunker Hill proved their valor.
Clinton Rogers was born at Wales, Hampden county, Massachusetts, De- cember 3, 1832, son of Joel and Mary (Shaw) Rogers. He obtained his educa- tion in public schools, and began busi- ness life as a clerk in his brother's store at Wales. He remained with his brother for two years, then was clerk in a Wor- cester, Massachusetts, store for two years, locating in Rochester, New York, in 1855. He entered the employ of Wilder, Case & Company as a clerk, and two years later, in March, 1857, in partnership with J. H. Howe entered the mercantile field as a member of the firm of Howe & Rogers, dealers in carpets. From that distant date over a period of fifty-eight
years he has been engaged in the same busines under the same name, changing, however, from a partnership to a corpo- ration in 1898. The young partners started with little capital, their chief asset being character; but so favorably were they known that the Lowell Carpet Company, departing from their estab- lished policy, sold them their initial stock on credit. The business grew by leaps and bounds, the young men, capable, en- ergetic and upright both, building on the foundations of best quality, perfect serv- ice, and the principle of fairest dealing. As they grew older and gained greater experience these principles were not devi- ated from but rather intensified in their application. Perfect confidence was estab- lished between merchant and buyer, and every effort was put forth to strengthen the bond. This has always characterized the business and now, after half a cen- tury, the motto "a square deal to all" is still the store slogan. On September 3, 1903, Mr. Howe passed away, thus break- ing business ties that had bound him to Mr. Rogers harmoniously and profitably for nearly half a century. The place left vacant by Mr. Howe's death was filled by his son and business continued as before. Located in the handsomest business building in the city and with a volume of trade largest of its kind in Western New York, Mr. Rogers may review his business career with satisfaction. He has honorably won wealth and reputation, and no man in all Rochester's list of emi- nent business men is held in higher esteem.
With advancing years Mr. Rogers has surrendered the heavier burdens of busi- ness, but is daily at his desk, his wise judgment and abundant experience fitting in well with the enthusiasm of his effici- ent associates. He has likewise sur- rendered interests of importance outside, after, in some instances, a connection of
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fifty years. For that period he was a director of the Traders' National Bank of Rochester, and still is a director of the Genesee Valley Trust Company. He has been a member of the Rochester Chamber of Commerce since its organization, was its president in 1905, and during his term of office secured the passage of a "smoke" ordinance through the Council that has greatly abated the smoke nuisance in the city. He also secured the passage of an ordinance for the establishment of the Municipal Hospital with a liberal appro- priation from the city. He has long been identified with the Rochester Historical Society, and for two years, 1906, 1907, was its president.
Mr. Rogers has made a number of foreign tours, his fine collection of steel engravings being largely acquired while abroad. While travel has been a favorite way of spending his days "off duty", he has kept in touch with the social life of his city through church, club and frater- nity membership. His clubs are the Whist, Country and Genesee Valley, and his fraternal affiliation is with the Ma- sonic Order, the "best tenets" of which institution he exemplifies in his life. In political faith he is a Republican, and in 1912 was presidential elector on the Taft ticket. Mr. Rogers' high ideals of busi- ness probity have been in keeping with his high ideals of private life, and both are founded on a deep religious senti- ment. He is not a dogmatic Christian, but believes in religion as the mainspring of life, a living, practical rule of life, bringing peace, contentment and joy to the possessor. For many years he has been a vestryman and warden of St. Luke's Protestant Episcopal Church, ever active in the support of any worthy object, religious, charitable or educational in character.
Clinton Rogers married, August 23, 1876, Fannie C., daughter of Henry E.
Rochester, and granddaughter of Colonel Nathaniel Rochester, founder of the city that bears his name. The children of Clinton and Fannie C. Rogers are: Fan- nie Beatrice, wife of S. S. B. Roby, of Rochester; Alice Montgomery, wife of Joseph Roby, M. D., of Rochester ; Rochester Hart, a lawyer of Rochester; Helen, residing at home.
MERRITT, Edwin Atkins,
Legislator, Federal Official, Soldier.
The immigrant ancestor of the Merritt family was Henry Merritt, a native of England, who emigrated to this country probably as early as 1626, and was among the pioneer settlers of Scituate, Massa- chusetts. Tradition says that he was born in County Kent, England, 1590. He died at Scituate, November 30, 1653. The line descends through his son, John Mer- ritt, who was born about 1635, died in Scituate, about 1674. His son, John (2) Merritt, was born in Scituate, 1660, died there, June 5, 1749. His son, Jonathan Merritt, was born in Scituate, May, 1702, died in Hebron, Connecticut, October 27, 1758, having removed thither about 1730. His son, Noah Merritt, was born in 1732, died in Templeton, Massachusetts, March 24, 1814. His son, Noah (2) Merritt, was born in Templeton, October, 1758, died in Sudbury, Vermont, August 21, 1843. He was a soldier in the Revolution from Templeton, having enlisted, February 21, 1778, for three years, and he was also an active participant in hostilities in the year 1780. His son, Noadiah Merritt, was born in Templeton, December 3, 1782, died in Pierrepont, New York, January I, 1854. He married Relief, daughter of Jeremiah and Relief (Rogers) Parker, the latter named having been a descendant, according to family tradition, of John Rogers, the Martyr, burned at the stake at Smithfield, 1554. They were the par-
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ents of General Edwin Atkins Merritt, whose name heads this sketch.
General Edwin Atkins Merritt was born in Sudbury, Vermont, February 26, 1828. He accompanied his family upon their removal to St. Lawrence county, New York, in 1841, and has resided in that section of the State ever since, mak- ing his home in Potsdam. After complet- ing his studies in the public schools adja- cent to his home, he served in the capac- ity of school teacher in St. Lawrence county, New York, but this occupation not proving to his liking he qualified him- self for the profession of civil engineer and surveyor, which lines of work he fol- lowed for many years, mainly in the Ad- irondacks. He published the first map for the use of tourists in the wilderness, and was the engineer in charge of the construction of the eastern section of the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg Rail- road. In 1854 he was elected supervisor of the town of Pierrepont and reelected the two following years. From 1857 to 1860 he was clerk of the Board of Super- visors of St. Lawrence county, and in 1859 he was elected a member of the State Assembly from the second district of this county, receiving a plurality of one thou- sand, three hundred and two votes, and in 1860 he was reelected by two thousand, two hundred and fifty-nine plurality. In 1867 he was elected to the constitutional convention of the State of New York and was chairman of the committee on organ- ization of the Legislature. For several years he was a leading member of the Republican State Central Committee. In March, 1869, he was appointed naval officer of the Port of New York by Presi- dent Grant, and held that office for one year and four months. In 1875 he was the unsuccessful candidate for state treas- urer, but two years later President Hayes appointed him surveyor of the Port of New York to succeed General Sharp, and his administration was so successful that
the President promoted mim to the col- lectorship of the port in July, 1878, and up to that time he was the only man who enjoyed the honor of having held the three offices of surveyor, naval officer and collector of the Port of New York. In 1881, shortly after the inauguration of President Garfield, he was appointed United States consul-general at London, England, in which capacity he served until 1885, displaying the utmost zeal and efficiency. In 1871 he had been offered the post of United States minister to Brazil, but he declined the honor.
General Merritt also has had a notable military career. At the beginning of the Civil War, 1861, he was appointed quar- termaster of the Sixtieth New York Regi- ment of Volunteers. He served with the Army of the Potomac, and after the battle of Gettysburg went west, participating in the battles about Chattanooga and in Sherman's Georgia campaign as far as Big Shanty, near Marietta, Georgia, when he received from President Lincoln a commission as commissary of subsistence with the rank of captain, and was ordered to Washington and stationed on the Potomac river to supply reinforcements proceeding to join Sheridan's army. At the close of the campaign he was ordered to Annapolis, Maryland, to pay commu- tation of rations to the soldiers returning from rebel prisons. While on this service he was appointed quartermaster-general on the staff of Governor Fenton and en- tered upon the duties of his office, January I, 1865, and continued until January, 1869. Subsequently he was superintendent of the Soldiers' Home and established free agencies for collection of bounties, back pay and pensions due soldiers from New York State. He has always taken an ac -. tive interest in educational affairs, and was one of the prime movers in securing the location of the State Normal School at Potsdam, of whose board of trustees he has been president for many years, has,
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also served in a similar office in St. Law- rence University at Canton, and is a member of the board of trustees of Clark- son Institute of Technology of Potsdam. He is a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion.
General Merritt married, May 5, 1858, Eliza, daughter of Jacob Rich. Children : I. Edwin Albert, born July 25, 1860, in Pierrepont, New York, died December 4, 1914; was a graduate of Yale College, class of 1884; was deputy consul-general at London, England, 1885; admitted to the practice of law and was a member of the Bar Association of St. Lawrence County, and of the State Bar Associ- ation; for several years was vice-presi- dent of the League of Republican Clubs of the State of New York; supervisor of the town of Potsdam for seven years; elected assemblyman in 1901, reëlected in 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, and dur- ing these terms was a member and often chairman of various important com- mittees; and speaker of the Assembly, 1913 and 1914; and was elected to the House of Representatives in 1913 to suc- ceed George Mulby, and was a member at the time of his death; married, Janu- ary 24, 1888, Edith Sophia Wilcox. 2. Arthur Rich, born August 31, 1863, died 1867. 3. Parker Wilson, born December 7, 1865, died 1867. 4. Darwin Fenton, born July 21, 1867, died 1875.
General Merritt is still living (1916) in hale old age with faculties unimpaired. Of his fidelity to the important trusts committed to him, of his sterling char- acter, the friendships he has inspired, and the esteem in which he is held by his community too much cannot be said.
STEWART, William Adams Walker, Lawyer, Philanthropist.
William A. W. Stewart, an attorney of New York, is of Scotch antecedents, as
his name indicates. His grandfather, John A. Stewart, was a native of Scotland, who came to New York City, and here was born his son, William Adams Walker Stewart, who died in 1888. The latter graduated at Princeton College, Prince- ton, New Jersey, in 1871, and at Columbia Law School, New York City, with the degree of LL. B., and engaged in practice of law in New York City. He married Frances Gray, a native of Boston, Massa- chusetts.
William A. W. Stewart, Jr., son of William A. W. and Frances (Gray) Stew- art, was born September 10, 1876, in New York City, and was prepared for college at the Berkeley School of New York, and at Princeton Preparatory School, where he spent one year. Following this he pursued the classical course at Princeton College, and was graduated with the de- gree of A. B. in 1897. In the fall of the same year he entered Columbia Law School in New York, and was graduated in 1900 with the degree of LL. B. In the same year he was admitted to practice at the New York bar, and entered the law office of Edward W. Sheldon, in New York, where he continued in a subordinate ca- pacity for six years. At the end of this period he became a partner in the law firm of Sheldon & Stewart, which sub- sequently became Stewart & Shearer, which firm is pursuing an active practice in New York City, with offices on Wall street. Mr. Stewart has taken an active interest in philanthropic work of the city, and is a trustee of the New York Infirm- ary for Women and Children. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and in politics acts independently of party guidance. He is a member of the Associ- ation of the Bar of the City of New York, and New York State Bar Association. Among his clubs may be mentioned the Union, Racquet and Tennis, University, Metropolitan, Piping Rock and Jekyl
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J. HMeachem
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Island clubs. He married, May 1, 1900, Frances Emily de Forest, born in New York City, daughter of Robert W. and Emily (Johnston) de Forest. Children : Frances Dorothy, Ethel, William Adams Walker, Edward Sheldon, Beatrice and Nancy.
MEACHEM, Thomas William, Manufacturer, Financier.
Thomas William Meachem, son of the Rev. Thomas Goldesbrough and Caroline (Yates) Meachem, was born at East Bloomfield, Ontario county, New York, June 7, 1849. His education, which was good and practical as far as it went, was obtained in Cortland, New York, where he was a student at the Cortland Acad- emy until he was fifteen years of age, at which time he left his home to make his way in the world. His first position was as a clerk in the Lake Shore Bank, at Skaneateles, New York. He held this first position for a period of two years, then was three years bookkeeper at the Syracuse Savings Bank. Ten years were then spent as teller of the Auburn Sav- ings Bank, a position he resigned in 1879 in order to again take up his residence in Syracuse, with which city he has since been identified. He organized the Bene- dict Table Manufacturing Company, an enterprise which was a success from the outset, and of which he later disposed. He founded the New Process Raw Hide Company in 1888, the name of which has since been changed to The New Process Gear Corporation, and he has been the president of this since its inception. This corporation has a captial of three million dollars and employs upward of one thou- sand men. The business ability of Mr. Meachem has been recognized by his fellow citizens, who elected him presi- dent of the Chamber of Commerce, in which he served in 1908 and 1909. His
official connection with other enterprises of importance is as follows: Vice-presi- dent of the Merchants' National Bank, Onondaga Provident Loan Association, the Palmer-Moore Company and the On- ondaga Hotel Corporation; director in the Inter-State Hotel Company, Omaha ; trustee of the Onondaga County Savings Bank and the American Scenic and His- toric Preservation Society ; member of the Syracuse Grade Crossing Commis- sion; and commissioner of the State Reservation at Niagara. The political support of Mr. Meachem has always been given to the Democratic party, and he has served as delegate to the State Con- vention which nominated Grover Cleve- land as a candidate for governor of the State; delegate to the National Conven- tion which nominated Woodrow Wilson for President ; he was an earnest advocate in favor of both of these nominations.
Mr. Meachem married, in 1875, Jessie Sabine, a daughter of William Sabine, of Onondaga Valley, New York, and they have two sons: Thomas Goldesbrough, born April 3, 1878, and Joseph Forman Sabine, born December 17, 1880, both of whom are prominent figures in the busi- ness life of Syracuse.
DAY, James Roscoe,
Clergyman, Educator, Anthor, Lecturer.
The science of pedagogy has become more and more fully recognized as one of the most vital importance in the commu- nity, and foremost in its ranks, as well as occupying a high position as a divine, au- thor and lecturer, is James Roscoe Day, S. T. D., D. C. L., LL. D., Chancellor of Syracuse University. He has also shown himself possessed of business ability of an exceedingly high order, and of him it may truly be said that he is in that class of men who, in the midst of apparently overwhelming business affairs, always
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find time to spare to assume additional duties, and thus appear to accomplish wonders. A very simple principle lies at the root of this state of affairs. No time is lost in idle speculation, but every moment of time is given its true valua- tion, and every phase of life is appreci- ated in proportion to the useful work which has been faithfully performed. He is descended from the Days of Cape Ann, the first president of Yale College also being a member of this branch, and an- other member being Professor George Edward Day. He is a son of Thomas and Mary Plummer (Hillman) Day, the latter a daughter of the Rev. Samuel Hill- man, his maternal grandmother was a Norton, of Livermore, Maine, the line from which Nordica descended on her paternal side. The Hillmans were from Chilmark, Martha's Vineyard. Thomas Day was engaged in lumbering in Maine, and in steamboating, staging, and similar occupations in the State of Washington.
James Roscoe Day was born at Whit- neyville, Maine. His classical and scien- tific training was acquired in the Maine Wesleyan Seminary, at Bowdoin College. He was compelled to leave Bowdoin at the close of his sophomore year by reason of impaired health. The degree of Bache- lor of Arts was, however, conferred upon him subsequently, and his name enrolled in the class of 1874, in which he would naturally have been graduated. While still in his teens he spent nearly five years in the West, in Washington and Oregon, but his early training enabled him to resist the temptations which were the ruin of so many young men of that period in that section. Shortly after leaving college he entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church, and labored effectively as a pastor in Auburn, Bath. Biddeford and Portland, Maine; Nashua, New Hampshire; Boston, Massachusetts ; Newburgh, New York, and again New
York, New York. In 1883 he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from both Dickinson College and Wesleyan University; that of Sacrae Theologiae Doctor from Bowdoin College in 1894, and that of Doctor of Laws from North- western University in 1898. On Novem- ber 16, 1893, Mr. Day was elected Chan- cellor of Syracuse University. Although he was elected a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal church in May, 1894, Dr. Day decided to remain at the university. It is not amiss to give here a summary of the organization and rise of the Univer- sity of Syracuse. It was organized in 1871 with forty students, and this number of students had grown to six hundred and forty-one at the time Chancellor Day took matters in hand. So successful have been his methods in every respect, that there is now an annual attendance of nearly four thousand students. The college property consisted of but five buildings : The Hall of Languages, dedicated in 1873; the John Crouse Memorial Col- lege; the Holden Observatory; the Von Ranke Library; and the Gymnasium. The financial affairs were in a very seri- ous state, owing to the panic of 1893, a large portion of the funds being invested in mortgages on unproductive western farm lands. It became necessary to fore- close these mortgages, many hundreds of acres becoming the property of the university, and these have increased in value since that time and some of them have been sold, so that the original in- vestment has been more than covered. Chancellor Day at once recognized the gravity of the financial condition of the university, and put carefully formed plans into execution. For a number of years much of his time and attention was de- voted to regulating the internal affairs of the institution, for in addition to solv- ing the financial problem, new courses of study were to be formulated. In a com-
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paratively short time he had matters in fair working order, and now turned his attention to increasing the facilities of the university. He purposed to extend the university in every possible direction, and the first step he made in this direc- tion was the erection of the main Medical College building. A fine building lot in the center of the city had been donated by Eliphalet Remington, and Chancellor Day saw the possibilities of developing this as an income bearing property by the erection of the present university in- vestment building upon it. This was done at a cost of almost one million dol- lars, but the amount it contributes to the funds of the institution to-day proves the wisdom of the proceeding. The greater part of 1897-98 was consumed in this work, and to-day the property of the university, together with its endowment fund, amounts to approximately five mil- lions of dollars. Under the administra- tion of Chancellor Day the Esther Baker Steele Hall of Physics was erected, this being his first building to occupy the campus; Winchell Hall followed, this be- ing a dormitory for women, and Haven Hall was also erected. L. C. Smith, founder of the typewriter industry of Syracuse, donated the Lyman Cornelius Smith College of Applied Science, one of the foremost technical schools in America, and this was taxed to its utmost capacity immediately upon completion. The area of the campus also became too limited for the increasing number of students, and in 1902 thirty-four acres were purchased adjoining on the south, and in 1904 the old Crouse homestead, at the corner of South State and East Fayette streets was purchased, and became the home of the Law School. In 1905 the Renwick Castle estate was purchased, this consisting of fourteen acres with Renwick Castle stand- ing upon it, and a College for Teachers was established there in 1906. Numerous
gifts have been made to the university, with the condition attached that an equal or given sum be raised by the univer- sity, and on each occasion the condition has been successfully overcome, mainly through the indefatigable energy and en- thusiasm of Chancellor Day. When John D. Archbold made an offer of a gift of this nature, amounting to four hundred thousand dollars, Dr. Day assisted by his financial secretary, worked with such energy that he raised the sum of one mil- lion two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Another important building secured to the university was the Car- negie Library, commencing with a gift of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars from Mr. Carnegie, secured upon the con- dition that a similar amount should be raised for its endowment. This building was completed and occupied in 1907, and is considered one of the most beautiful on the campus. The John Lyman Hall of Natural History, donated by the late John Lyman, was completed in 1907, and a new Hall of Chemistry was donated by Samuel W. Bowne. The Stadium, an- other gift of John D. Archbold, president of the board of trustees of the univer- sity, is one of the finest athletic grounds in America, and is provided with asphalt seats to the number of twenty thousand. The great gymnasium by Mr. Archbold soon followed. While Chancellor Day is a strong advocate of athletic training, he does not believe in giving these ad- vantages to a selected few, but thinks that all students should make use of the opportunities of this nature which are placed at their disposal.
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