Gazetteer and biographical record of Genesee County, N.Y., 1788-1890, Part 25

Author: Beers, F. W. (Frederick W.), ed. 1n; Vose, J.W., and Co
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : J.W. Vose & Co.
Number of Pages: 920

USA > New York > Genesee County > Gazetteer and biographical record of Genesee County, N.Y., 1788-1890 > Part 25

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Richmond Encampment, No. 67, I. O. O. F., was instituted August 21, 1872. The chief patriarch is D. B. Pratt, of Alabama, L. B. Fisk is H. P., William Toulson is S. W., and E. W. Davis is scribe.

Batavia Rebekah Degree Lodge, No. 37, meets in the rooms of the Rich- mond Encampment.

Security Lodge, No. 21, A. O. U. W., has now 121 members. It was chartered April 20, 1876, when its officers were C. F. Starks, C. M .; L. L. Crosby, M. W .; J. L. Foster, G. F .; A. J. Fox, O. C .; C. O. Frost, rec .; F. T. Schlick, fin .; James Jones, rec .; W. C. Mann, G .; M. E. True, I. W .; J. B. Neasmith, O. W. The officers for 1889 were A. B. Clark, P. M. W .; H. G. Buisch, M. W .; E. A. Perrin, G. F .; Thomas Johnson, O. C .; J. O. Griffith, rec .; L. F. Rolfe, fin .; A. E. Brown, rec .; David Byum, G .; C. J. Crabb, I. W .; M. C Schrader, O. W.

Batavia Council, No. 14, Royal Templars of Temperance .- The offi- cers are Mrs. A. F. Lawrence, S. C .; Mrs. M. A. McWain, V. C .; George W. Pratt, P. C .; Mrs. G. H. Ferren, chaplain ; Byron Orendorf, recording secretary ; Miss Vantia Smith, financial secretary ; Mrs. Anna L. Torrey, treasurer ; Miss Jessie Tallman, her .; Mrs. Hannah Delbridge, sentinel.

Upton Post, No. 299, G. A. R., was organized October 25, 1882, with 30 members. The commander was W. J. Reedy. W. H. Raymond was S. V. C .; George Thayer, J. V. C .; John O. Griffis, Q. M .; M. McMul- len, officer of guard ; C. R. Nichols, chaplain ; Peter Thomas, adjutant ; O. C. Parker, officer of day ; L. L. Crosby, S. M .; Russell Crosby, Q. M. sergeant. There were 91 members in 1889, with the following officers :

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E. A. Perrin, P. C .; E. J. Benton, S. V. C .; J. R. Colt, J. V. C .; A. M. Weed, adjutant ; R. E. Churchill, Q. M .; H. J. Patton, sergeant ; A. Benchley, chaplain ; John Thomas, O. of D .; R. Senate, O. of G .; R. C. Odion, S. M .; D. H. Wheeler, Q. M. S.

The Equitable Aid Union, No. 396, has 19 members, who meet bi- monthly. Thomas Capp is president; William Wescott, V. P .; I. V. Dib- ble, treasurer ; and William Udritz, secretary.

Batavia Farmers' Club was organized in 1872, with P. P. Bradish as president; J. G. Fargo, secretary ; and Henry Ives, treasurer. The present officers are Sylvanus Ford, of Elba, president, and John B. Crosby, sec- retary. It is one of the oldest clubs in the State.

The Young Men's Christian Association was organized in the spring of 1889. L. C. McIntyre was elected president; Safford E. North, vice- president ; C. H. Harrington, general secretary ; A. H. Thomas, record- ing secretary ; and John M. Mckenzie, treasurer. The rooms are located on Main street, corner of Jackson, being elegantly fitted up for recrea - tion for the young men, making an attractive and desirable place in which to spend their evenings, with no restraint so far as pleasant games and amusement are concerned. Tables of choice serials, magazines, and daily papers are at hand for those inclined to a literary taste, and a spacious gym- nasium, fitted up with all necessary appliances for healthful exercise, make this an inviting place for those interested in the moral and religious wel- fare of the young men of Batavia.

The Philharmonic Society has been organized about six years. The officers for 1889 were S. J. Lawrence, president; F. A. Lewis, vice- presi- dent ; L. D. Collins, secretary ; C. C. Bradley, treasurer; and E. G. Harts- horn, librarian.

Batavia Lodge, No. 50, Empire Order of Mutual Aid .- This lodge meets the first and third Tuesday evenings of each month in Empire Hall, 84 East Main street. It was instituted March 15, 1879, with 33 charter members. Of this number are R. A. Maxwell, L. C. McIntyre, W. C. Simpson, E. L. Kenyon, N. J. Nobles, M. H. Peck, Jr., E. H. Wood, and E. P. Morse. This lodge has lost during its 10 years' existence but two members by death, viz .: Edwin Darrow and H. B. Ferrin, both of whom were charter members. The present officers are : President, Whiting C. Woolsey ; vice-president, William Hoffman ; secretary and treasurer, John W. Smith ; trustee, L. C. McIntyre ; representative to Grand Lodge, Whiting C. Woolsey.

The Batavia Gun Club's officers are : President, Dr. Harry Sutterby ;

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vice-president, John McNish ; secretary, A. Wyness ; treasurer, Philip. Hensner; captain, John Stein ; directors, Charles Herbold, Dr. Patten, and L. F. McLean.

The Genesee County Loan and Building Association was incorporated April 21, 1879, the object of the association being to encourage the sav- ing of small sums of money weekly, thus accumulating a fund to be loaned to other members in such manner that they can repay the loan in easy weekly payments, or the amount of ordinary rent, thus helping them to secure a home. Its first officers were : President, Wilber Smith; vice-president, C. H. Howard; secretary, F. M. Sheffield ; treasurer, F. S. Wood; attorney, S. E. North. . There are at present 560 mem- bers, with the following officers : George Wiard, president; M. B. Adams, vice-president ; B. F. Hamilton, secretary ; John W. Pratt, treasurer ; and S. E. North, attorney.

Batavia Athletic Association was organized in 1887, with 40 members. M. F. Cross was president ; W. S. Wakeman, secretary and treasurer. The officers for 1889 were A. E. Brown, president; S. J. Lawrence, sec- retary ; and B. G. Tallman, treasurer. Their rooms are in the Ross. block.

Batavia cornet band .- The earliest record we have of any band was one led by Phineas Todd and a Mr. Hunt in 1820. This was disbanded after six years. The present one was organized about 1856, with A. W. Gardner as leader, and consisted of 14 members, among whom were Dr. Showerman, A. Bowen, E. Locke, W. Locke, and R. B. Pease, who loaned the band money to purchase instruments. The present officers are : Leader, C. Klimitz ; treasurer, L. M. Smith ; secretary, - Leon- ard; and there are 15 pieces.

The Batavia Club was organized July 28, 1882, under the manage- ment of nine directors. The first ones elected were L. R. Bailey, D. W. Tomlinson, J. H. Bradish, A. E. Clark, F. S. Wood, A. N. Cowdin, J. H. Ward, A. T. Miller, and W. L. Otis. The first officers were D. W. Tom- linson, president; J. H. Bradish, vice- president ; A. T. Miller, secretary; F. S. Wood, treasurer ; L. R. Bailey, W. L. Otis, and A. E. Clark, house committee. The club-house, situated on Main street near the opera house, was opened January 4, 1883. This building was destroyed by fire February 16, 1886. On the 17th of April, 1886, the club was re- moved to its present building, on the corner of Main and Bank streets. This desirable building with location are the former quarters of the Bank of Genesee. The club was incorporated April 7, 1888, and shortly af-

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terward they purchased the present property. They have now 58 resi- dent members and 31 non-resident members. The present directors are Henry Todd, D. W. Tomlinson, R. D. Dewey, J. H. Bradish, F. S. Wood, A. N. Cowdin, George P. Bowen, Trumbull Cary, and H. B. Fisher. The officers are Henry Todd, president ; George P. Bowen, vice-president ; F. S. Wood, secretary and treasurer ; D. W. Tomlinson, J. H. Bradish, and R. D. Dewey, house committee.

Batavia Business University was established by W. W. Whitcomb in 1867, at 92 East Main street. In 1885 the Hon. John M. Mckenzie became associated with Mr. Whitcomb in the reestablishment of the school, with all the later improved methods, Mr. Mckenzie acting as secretary and treasurer. The school was then located at its present quarters, Main corner of Jackson streets. The school has graduated over 800 pupils since it was established. Many of the young business men of Batavia are among its graduates. The "business practice " course of about two months is made to cover all possible transactions that may ever occur.

To a limited extent Mr. Whitcomb has become quite proficient in the subject of astronomy, having published an Illustrated Solar Chart, which gives at one view the relative positions of the planets ; their orbital speed per hour ; length of years; length of days ; amount of light and heat on each ; distance of each from the sun, also from the earth; inclination of orbits; diameter of each; density; gravity; eclipses of the sun and moon ; phases of moon ; inclination of axis of earth ; Saturn and moon, from photographs; Saturn's rings and moons; annual parallax; sun spots and faculæ ; moon, Saturn, and Mars, from photographs ; the three motions of the sun explained ; tide waves; transit of Mercury and Venus. The contents of several books are all before the eye, and in a plain, com-

prehensible manner. Mr. Whitcomb has also invented and procured let- ters patent on a Lunar Globe. The earth globe is confined in a groove forming an eclipse, thus showing the sun at the foci and the earth at a corresponding greater distance in June than in December ; also the radius. vector for each day in the year. The moon ball is so arranged as to fol- low the exact path of the moon, climbing in her course for 173 days and descending in same length of time, and in passing her nodes will show plainly when and how an eclipse is caused. Also how we may have seven eclipses in one year and only four in another, and will also pass accurately through the Chaldean period, or saros, and repeat the eclipses once in about 18 years. The "orbit band" is so arranged that the

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higher part indicates at a glance where, and in what months, the aphelion part of the moon's orbit is located-and careful study proves that wherever this is found the weather is under its influence : warmer, when between the earth and sun in winter, and cooler when from the sun in sum- mer ; or, to state it again, when the "orbit band " is toward the sun in summer we have extremes of heat, and, as when it is to the sun in sum- mer, it is from the sun in winter, we have extreme cold. This is proved by dates covering over 60 years.

The Johnston Harvester Company .- In 1868 Johnston, Huntley & Co. established at Brockport, N. Y., a manufactory of harvesters, having had the machines built on contract for 1867. The principal member of the firm was Byron E. Huntley. They first manufactured what was known as the Johnston sweepstakes. After a few years the manufacture of these machines was abandoned, being supplanted by the present John- ston harvester. In 1870 a joint stock company was organized for the manufacture of these machines, with Samuel Johnston, president, and Byron E. Huntley, secretary and treasurer. In 1874 Mr. Johnston with- drew from the company, although the name of the corporation was not changed. In June, 1882, the works at Brockport were burned, and the company at once determined to remove to a place offering greater facil- ities for transportation, and accordingly they were located here. The works now consist of seven large buildings, occupying 17 acres of ground on Harvester avenue, between the N. Y. C. & H. R. Railroad and the N. Y., L. E. & W. Railroad. Steam engines of 300 horse-power fur- nish the propelling force for the machinery, and from 400 to 500 skilled mechanics are employed. The original cost of the plant was $300,000. The fact that Batavia is a good manufacturing point has been fully dem- onstrated, and a number of new manufacturing concerns have recently located there; none, however, are equal in magnitude to the Johnston har- vester works.

In November, 1888, the company was reorganized by the election of the following directors : George E. Dana, of Syracuse ; C. C. Briggs, of Pittsburg; L. C. McIntyre, B. E. Huntley, and A. J. Glass, of Batavia. The officers are A. J. Glass, president and treasurer ; Byron E. Huntley, vice- president ; and E. J. Mockford, secretary and superintendent. In January, 1889, there was added the manufacturing of the " Continental rotary disk pulverizer and corn cultivator," representing about 40 pat- ·ents. They manufacture four styles of mowers, two styles of reapers, and two styles of self-binders.

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Albert J. Glass, president and treasurer of the Johnston Harvester Co., is a native of Livingston County, and was born in 1841. Receiving an academic education in his native county upon attaining his majority he went to McGregor, Iowa, and became engaged in selling farming machinery and agricultural implements. In 1867 he was appointed the agent for the sale of Johnston harvesters, and in 1871 was made the manager of the Western business of the company, with offices located at Chicago. In 1882 he left the service of the company, and was for six years the manager of the Janesville Machine Co., at Janesville, Wis. In January, 1888, he came to Batavia at the request of Mr. Huntley, and was active in the reorganization of the present company. Mr. Glass. is a man of superior executive ability, and under his supervision the affairs of the works are flattering and prospering.

Byron E. Huntley is the vice-president and European manager of the Johnston Harvester Company. His native home was Mexico, Oswego County. He moved to Fairport, Monroe County, with his parents, when 12 years of age, and in 1844 to Brockport. He prepared for college at Brockport Collegiate Institute, and subsequently attended the Madison University, at Hamilton, Madison County. Owing to failing health, however, he was compelled to give up his college course, and soon after he took a position as office boy in the factory of Fitch, Barry & Co. About 1845 an arrangement was made by Fitch, Barry & Co. with McCormick (who had come up from Virginia to Brockport to get his reaper built) to manufacture his machines under a license. The McCor- mick machine was built for a few years at this factory, which was one of the earliest in this line of work. Mr. Huntley spent about five years here as employee, and at the expiration of that time he secured an interest in the business, the firm being then known as Ganson, Huntley & Co. But few machines had been turned out up to this time ; and the records show that Huntley, Bowman & Co. commenced work on the Palmer & Will- iams self-rake in 1853, that 50 machines were made that season, that in 1854 the number was increased to 325, and in the following years to 825 machines. In 1871 failing health compelled Mr. Huntley to seek a change, and he spent that year in Colorado, a rest that was of great ben- efit to him, and one of the best investments he ever made, he thinks ; but prior to this he had established a market for their machines in Europe, and had opened an office there. As the Franco-Prussian war was in progress he did not go over in 1871, but he went the next year, and has gone regularly ever since. Mr. Huntley has crossed the Atlan-

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tic 38 times, and is, perhaps, better posted on the European harvester and mower trade than any man liying ; and the aim of the Johnston Harvester Company, influenced by his practical suggestions, has not been to lead in numbers of machines turned out, but to regularly make the best ; and it is this course that has gained for them a world-wide reputation.

Edward J. Mockford was born in England in 1853, and came so this country in 1866. He entered the employ of Johnston, Huntley & Co. at Brockport in 1869, and has remained with the company ever since through all the changes of management. He has filled the positions of book- keeper and cashier, and is now the very efficient secretary and superin- tendent of the large factory of the Johnston Harvester Co.

The Wiard Plow Company .- Thomas Wiard was a blacksmith and farmer in East Avon, N. Y. In. 1806 he was engaged in the manufact- ure of the old-fashioned " bull plow " that was used by the pioneer farm- ers. In 1815 he began to purchase from Jethro Wood (the inventor of the first successful cast-iron plow) the necessary castings, and these he wooded and completed in his shop. Thus he continued until 1819, when he erected a foundry, made patterns for improved plows, and manufact- ured all the parts himself. He continued the manufacture of plows at East Avon, in connection with his sons William, Seth, Thomas, Henry, and Matthew, till about 1830, and one or more of his sons were manu- facturing there until 1871. During this period improvements were being made in the Wiard plows till they had acquired a reputation above those of any other pattern in use. It is worthy of note that all the numerous members of the Wiard family from the grandfather down were men of superior practical ingenuity.

In 1865 George Wiard, son of William, and president of the present company in Batavia, purchased a half interest in the establishment at East Avon, and in 1871 Charles W. Hough, treasurer of the company, purchased the interest of Matthew Wiard, the firm being Wiard & Hough. The firm continued at East Avon until 1876. During its existence at East Avon the works were several times burned. In 1876 the business had so increased as to necessitate better facilities for transportation, and a removal was determined on. The village of Batavia offered better rail- road facilities than any other place, and the citizens saw fit to donate a site for the works as a further inducement to the company to locate here. The works, located on Swan street, between the Erie and Central rail- roads, were erected by Wiard & Hough, and on their completion in Sep-

Gulerand 1

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tember, 1876, the present company was organized. The capital stock was originally $70,000, but was subsequently increased to $100,000. George Wiard was the president and general superintendent, and C. W. Hough the secretary and treasurer. The present officers are the same, except that J. J. Washburn is now the secretary. Since the establish- ment of the works here the business has been mainly the manufacture of plows, of which the company makes an endless variety, adapted to all kinds of soils and circumstances, and the more important parts of which are covered by letters patent in the United States and Canada. These consist of one, two, and three-horse plows, with chilled and steel mold- boards, wood, malleable, and cast-iron beains, sulky and walking, flatland and side-hill, and particularly swivel plows for level land. The orig- inal capacity of the works has been about doubled ; the establishment now covers about four acres of ground, and an average of 125 hands are employed. The machinery is driven by an engine of 100 horse-power, and the shops are heated by steam and lighted by the Edison system of incandescent electric light, 'and are provided in all parts with automatic sprinklers. One feature, rare in manufactories of agricultural imple- ments, is that these works have never, since the company was organized in Batavia, for one day been closed for want of something to do. The · company has also invented important improvements in sulky hay rakes, for which patents are pending, and having added this class of implements to their business are now engaged in the extensive manufacture and dis- tribution of the same.

George Wiard, the organizer and head of the Wiard Plow Company, is a self-made and representative business man of Western New York. His parents were William and Lucinda (McLaughlin) Wiard, early set- tlers of Western New York, and for several years in East Avon, where his father engaged in manufacturing. In 1820 he removed to Canada, and was the first to manufacture cast-iron plows in that country. He resided there until his death in 1841 ; his wife also died there in 1864.

George Wiard was born in Canada in 1833. When 15 years of age he went to Buffalo and learned the trade of molder, and thus gained a prac- tical knowledge of the requirements of the business he was to follow, and has so successfully developed. He has been a resident of Genesee or Livingston counties since 1854. Losses from fire, several times, have only resulted in renewed energy and perseverance, until at last a model establishment is the result. Mr. Wiard is also closely identified with the growth and developement of the village. He has been an active and

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influential member of the board of education for many years, serving as its president for four terms. He was one of the organizers of the Genesee County Permanent Loan and Building Association, serving as president for 10 years. He was one of the commissioners appointed to build the water works. To religion, charity, and works of benovelence Mr. Wiard is a cheerful giver, he and his family being connected with the Baptist Church.

Mr. Wiard has an honorable record of service during the late war. He enlisted in the 129th Regt. N. Y. Vols. in 1862. This regiment sub- sequently was changed to the 8th N. Y. H. A. In a battle before Pe- tersburg Mr. Wiard received a wound by which he was confined to the hospital, from where he was ordered to Washington to instruct fresh troops. He was on the staff of Gen. Hardin and Gen. Haskins, com- manding defences of Washington. He was inspector of artillery until the close of the war, after which he had charge of dismantling forts south of the Potomac, and was finally transferred to the 4th N. Y. H. A., being a captain in that regiment when mustered out in October, 1865. In 1856. Mr. Wiard married Miss Emeline Warren, of East Avon. She died in 1870, and in 1872 he was married to Miss Isabella Warren, also of East Avon, and they are parents of five children, viz .: May, Louis, Ernest, Henry, and Harry.

Charles W. Hough, treasurer of the Wiard Plow Company, is a native of Cayuga County, N. Y., where his father was engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was born in 1836. Receiving a business education he early in life became a clerk in a store. In 1855 he went to Iowa, and while there was an assistant in a store, taught school, and served as dep- uty county treasurer of Boone County one year. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Co. E, 138th Regt. N. Y. Vols., which was afterwards changed to the 9th N. Y. H. A. This regiment was assigned to the defence of Washington, remaining there for 18 months. Mr. Hough served on the staff of Gen. Haskins as ordnance officer of the defences north of the Potomac. He was also on the staff of Gen. Hardin and Gen. Wilcox, was promoted to first lieutenant, and commissioned captain on the mustering out of the regiment. After the close of the war he had charge of dismantling the forts around Washington, north of the Potomac, and was mustered out in October, 1865. He then resumed his business life, engaging in mercantile trade in his native county, but removed to Min- nesota, engaging in the manufacture of farming implements until he be- came a member of the Wiard Plow Co. in 1871, where his knowledge of

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the requirements essential to the sale of farming implements has redounded to the benefit of the company. He has been largely interested in real estate operations ; has opened up an addition to Batavia on Central av- enue, Pringle and Wood streets, and the section where the new Union School is located. He is also a large owner of plantation property in Florida, where he is engaged in cultivating orange and lemon groves. In all the enterprises to promote the growth of Batavia he is a valued counselor and a liberal contributor.

Mr. Hough formed a matrimonial alliance, in 1866, with Miss Jennie Young, of Cayuga County, and they have two children, Arthur G. and Edward W.

Julian J. Washburn, secretary of the Wiard Plow Company, was born in Randolph, Vt., in 1842. He came of old Puritan stock, being a direct descendant of the Rev. Robert Cushman, who first obtained the charter of the ship Mayflower, and of his son, Thomas Cushman, and Mary Al- lerton, both of whom came to Plymouth on the first voyage. Mr. Washburn was educated in the grammar schools of his native State, and became a teacher, pursuing that vocation until September, 1802, when he joined the 15th Regt. Vt. Vols. (Col. Redfield Proctor), and served during its term of enlistment. He was then employed as clerk in the U. S Hospital Department until the close of the war, when he engaged in agricultural pursuits and teaching until 1870, being officially connected with various agricultural and literary associations during the time. He next engaged in commercial pursuits, going to Boston, Mass., in Octo- ber, 1870, and spending most of the time in traveling for the seven suc- ceeding years. In 1877 he became a resident of Batavia. and has ever since been connected with the Wiard Plow Co., of which he has been a trustee, and the secretary since May, 1880. In this time he has also served both as trustee and president of the village of Batavia. Mr. Washburn is a genial and cultivated gentleman, and an honored and respected addition to the social and business element of the county.

He was married, in 1866, to Martha K. Bigelow, daughter of the late Hon. Abel Bigelow, of Brookfield, Vt. They have two children, Ed- ward A., a counselor at law, and Mary V., at present a pupil in the Union School of Batavia. The family attends the Presbyterian church, and takes the greatest interest in all that pertains to the moral and-intel- lectual advancement of the community.

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Gazetteer and biographical record of Genesee County, N.Y., 1788-1890, Part 25

Author: Beers, F. W. (Frederick W.), ed. 1n; Vose, J.W., and Co Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : J.W. Vose & Co. Number of Pages: 920

Author: Beers, F. W. (Frederick W.), ed. 1n; Vose, J.W., and Co
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : J.W. Vose & Co.
Number of Pages: 920