USA > New York > Monroe County > Rochester > Historical collections of the Junior pioneer association of the city of Rochester and Monroe County, N.Y. > Part 3
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MEDICINE-POLITICS AND STATESMANSIHIP.
passed without a grateful recollection. Distinguished for his ardent devotion to his profession, he exhibited in its practice. an indomitable energy and perseverance, regarding it as worthy of his highest effort and greatest sacrifice. When that sad pestilence, the Asiatic Cholera, was among us, his efforts to quiet the popular alarm, and restore the stricken invalids, were appreciated at the time, and are still remem- bered, with grateful satisfaction, by his many friends. Dr. JOHN B. ELWOOD, after years of distinguished ability and success in the department of medicine, and especially of surgery, has retired to private life, which he leaves only at the demand of imperitive duty or long cherished affection. The respect and confidence which he has ever enjoyed from his fellow citizens, were never more deservedly won. Contemporary with Dr. Elwood, and for a considerable period a partener in business, was Dr. John D. Henry, who has a just place in the recollection of our early citizens as a skillful practitioner, an exemplary christian, and a kind neighbor. He has accompanied Drs. Brown, Ensworth, Gibbs, Day, McCracken, Ezra Strong, and McGregor, to the " house appointed for all the living." Doctors Frank H. Hamilton, Thos. F. Rochester, and Edward M. Moore, oc- cupy distinguished places in the medical department of the "University of Buffalo." The late Dr. Webster, during several years previous to his death, occupied the chair of surgery, in Geneva Medical College. Since the passing away of the diseases incident to a new settlement, Roches- ter has ranked among the healthiest cities of the Union, and is now well supplied with learned and able physicians.
POLITICS AND STATESMANSHIP.
Rochester has taken an active and influential part in the discussion and direction of affairs, State and National. It was here that the Hon. John Quincy Adams Received his first nomination to the presidency ; a fact to which he often
29
POLITICS AND STATESMANSHIP.
referred. Anti-Masonry, which entered so largely into pol- ities thirty years ago, bringing into notice persons whom the nation has honored already, and may much more in time to come, find early and devoted friends here. The Hon. Addison Gardiner and Hon. Henry R. Selden have presided over the Senate as Lientenant Governors. A recent acting Governor of Nebraska, Thomas B. Cumming, was a native of Rochester. So, also, is the Hon. David K. Carter, lately a member of Congress, from Ohio. The Hon. D. D. Bar- nard, now of Albany, recently' United States Minister to Prussia, formerly represented this District in Congress, and passed in Rochester, the early years of his prosperous life ; as also, Hon. John Covode, now Member Congress, of Penn. ; Messrs. Samuel G. Andrews, Isaac R. Elwood, and Samuel P. Allen, have efficiently discharged the duties of Clerk of the State Senate. L. Ward Smith, a native of Rochester, was Adjutant General of the State of New York, in 1851-52. We cannot dismiss this topic without a notice of one person whose name has a national fame ; I refer to THURLOW WEED, Esq. This gentleman commenced his pub- lic career among us as Editor of the " Rochester Telegraph," about the year 1827. Desiring a wider arena, he removed to Albany, to edit the well known " Evening Journal," though not without a fond, and oft-uttered attachment to his early home. He entered life with but the fragment of an education ; but by dint of incessant study, and attention to single objects, he has accomplished what is impossible to the mere student of books. Though declining official posi- tion, he made himself known and felt in every city and village of the Union. In the language of a metropolitan editor, "when he passes away, in the fulness of years, he will leave no larger, more genial spirit, to take his place on the busy stage of human affairs."
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MANUFACTURES AND TRADES.
MANUFACTURES AND TRADES.
The Genesee River, with its "Rapids," and "Falls" of 260 feet, early attracted emigrants to a spot which, from that feature alone, it was supposed, must become one of man- ufacturing importance. The future has justified these ex- pectations. Of the large traet of land given by the Indians to Messrs. Phelps and Gorham, " one hundred acres were donated by those gentlemen to Indian Allen," on condition that a Grist Mill should be erected. This mill was built in 1789. It was small, ill-constructed, and, in best order, could grind but 60 bushels a day ; but for a considerable time, it answered all demands, for 30 miles around. The stones used in this mill, were made from rock taken from the bed of the river adjacent, and were subsequently removed and used .in a mill at Allen's Creek, in the town of Brighton, where they are yet preserved ; and steps are being taken to place them in the Court House yard, in this city. Such were the beginnings of what has been during two score years, the center of flour manufacture ; which, for amount, excellence and reputation, has no superior in any land. Some of the Rochester mills are on a scale of magnitude unsurpassed in the world. There are several single runs of stone which can grind 100 barrels per day. During the year ending August 1st, 1835, eighteen mills, with 78 runs of stone, inanufactured 460,000 barrels of flour, which was sent to every part of the habitable globe. Ten of the largest and most perfect of these mills were erected under the di- rection of Robert M. Dalzell, of whom, it has been well said, that if the architect of palaces be worthy of notice in history, it cannot be improper to render justice to the scien- tific mechanic, whose skill has largely contributed to the fame of the city of his residence. Rochester, with her twen- ty-one flouring mills, containing 116 runs of stone, (ex- clusive of custom mills,) still manufactures more flour,
1
31
MANUFACTURES AND TRADES.
it is believed, than any other place in the world. Not- withstanding the temporary check to this branch of her manufacturing business occasioned by the partial failure of the Genesee wheat crop during the last five years, her facili- ties are so great for deriving ample supplies of wheat from Canada and all the Western and South-Western States, that should the present sanguine expectations fail as to the speedy restoration of Genesee wheat in its former abundance and excellence, she will easily supply her numerous mills, and continue to hold her eminence not only as to the extent of. her manufactures, but the premium character of some of hier brands of flour-a position which is now unsurpassed in the world. The flouring mills, though dealing more with capital, in proportion to labor, than some other branches of mann- facture, furnish employment direct and indirect to a popula- tion greater than that of any village in this region. A medium sized flouring mill, if in operation most of the time, disburses, for labor and other incidentals, not less than $12,000 per annumı, giving employment to about fifty men, including coopers, whichi, with their families, (estimating five in each house,) amount to between two and three hundred souls, sustained by each mill, or some five thousand in the aggregate. These facts and figures illustrate one source of our prosperity, and justify our favorite sobriquet of " Flour City." Let us not close this reference to the mills of Rochester without a grateful mention of some who early embarked in this important branch of public prosperity. At the head stands Ebenezer Allen, in 1789. In the year 1807, we find the name of Chas. Hanford ; 1812, Francis Brown & Co. ; 1814, Messrs. E. & H. Ely, and Josiah Bissell ; 1817, Wm. Atkinson, E. B. Strong, Herman Norton, and E. Beach ; 1818, Palmer Cleveland ; 1821, Thomas H. Rochester and Harvey Montgomery ; 1826, Elias D. Shelinire and Benj. Campbell ; 1827, E. S. Beach, Thomas Kempshall, Henry Kennedy, Warham Whitney, Silas O. Smith, and F. Bab-
+
32
MANUFACTURES AND TRADES.
cock ; 1828, HI. Ely ; 1831, Charles J. Hill, E. D. & HI. P. Smith ; 1835, James K. Livingston ; 1836, H. B. Williams, Mack & Patterson, II. L. Achilles, and Joseph Strong. These were the active ones, in this direction, during thirty years of our history. We will never forget them. The present millers : Thomas Kempshall, Charles J. Hill & Son, John Williams, Louis Chapin, G. W. Burbank, Joseph Put- nam, William Richardson, Hiram Smith, W. W. Carr, Ben- nett & Conolly, George W. Smith, George S. Riley, H. N. Peek, Cornelius Waydell, Main & Chapman, A. Longmuir & Co., P. Conolly, Kennedy & Bostwick, J. M. Whitney & Co. ; and several custom millers.
Look at the larger establishments, for the manufacture of Boots and Shoes: Pancost, Sage & Co., Geo. Gould & Co., L. & H. Churchill, J. W. Hatch & Son, L. A. Pratt, H. F. Van Dake, Jaquith & Co., P. Biglow, II. E. Whittlesey, J. F. Conklin, W. Rhoades, P. & J. Kirley, Woollard & Leat, G. P. Grant, John Groh, with a few smaller establishments. aggregating one thousand five hundred persons in constant employment. One of these houses sends out, daily, one thou- sand pairs of boots and shoes. Thirteen States and Terri- tories bring custom to this market. A gentleman well in- formed tells me that upon reliable data he bases his estimate that five thousand persons in this city are sheltered, fed and clothed through this branch of industry alone. The oldest tannery was that of the Messrs. Graves ; that of Messrs. Fitch & Allings (just consumed by fire, but re-commenced in another place) is, with two exceptions, the largest this side of New York City.
Another extensive branch of manufacture is that . of Garments, and their exportation to halt the States of the Union. Among the principal dealers in this article are : Stettheimer & Co., Greentree & Wile, B. P. Robinson & Co., Wollf & Bachmann, George Shelton, I. F. Reed, Mad- den & Campbell, Clark & Storms, Cornwall & Stace, Geo.
33
MANUFACTURES AND TRADES.
Clarkson & Son, and J. W. Armitage. A single establishi- ment employs two hundred persons, with a business of over $300,000 per annum.
Mr. D. R. Barton commenced the Edge Tool Business in 1834. He has now in his establishment one hundred and fifty persons, manufacturing articles which are sought for by customers from all parts of this country and from Europe.
Go to the workshops of Messrs. Kidd & Co., and you will find 100 persons engaged in the manufacture of Car Wheels Rail Road and other Castings, for the Southern market, con- snming nearly 4,000 tons of iron, and aggregating sales to about $300,200 per annum. Go to the Stove Manufactories of Messrs. French & Co., Bennett & Co., De Witt & Galusha -the first employs 60 persons per day, almost the year around, working up 30 tons of iron, into 250 to 300 stoves per week, the annual sales amounting to about $300,000. And the extensive Iron Railing and the Covert Bank Lock Works of Martin Briggs. Forget not that at the Scale Work's of the Duryee & Forsyth Manufacturing Company, and Messrs. Forsyth & Co., may be found articles in variety and size, from a bank lock to a hay scale. Look in at the Paper Mills of Mr. Jones. Step within Messrs. Boughton & Chase's Shingle Factory ; and the various Chair Factories of Ilayden & Bromley, the Charles Robinson Chair Manufac- tory of M. C. Mordoff & Co., and others, on State street. Omit not the extensive Steam Engine manufactory of Messrs. D. A. Woodbury & Co .; and the Carriage depots of J. Cunningham, and Messrs. Elliott & Lodewick ; and the "Iron Fence Works" of J. P. Fisher: Go into a room at "Fiske's Building," on Mill street, and you will find Mr. Daniel Hughes, an ingenious mechanic of the city, conduct- ing a large establishment for the manufacture of Genesee hickory into Stirrups, which are sent by thousands to South America, Mexico, and the Western plains.
Pass across the bridge, to the east side of the river, and 3
34
MANUFACTURES AND TRADES.
make observation there. Well do I remember when the first Piano Forte was brought to this, then, village. It was ' the lion' of the place. But now we see our townsman, Frederick Starr, conducting an establishment for the mann- facture of these instruments-(now no longer a luxury, but a necessity in every well furnished honse,) which find pur- chasers all over the State, receiving commendations even from Boston artists, and taking the prize wherever exhibited. Visit the suburbs, and you will find about 4,000 acres of land devoted to the culture of trees, shrubs and flowers-the an- mal sales ranging from $750,000 to $1,000,000. Rochester contains the largest Fruit and Ornamental Nurseries in the world, exporting trees, &c., to every part of the Union-to Canada and the far countries of Europe. Among the many engaged in this trade, we do not hesitate to name the firm of Messrs. Ellwanger and Barry, who were the Pioneers of this department, and still retain the pre-eminence ; to which may be added the firms of H. E. Hooker & Co .; A. Frost & Co .; Hooker, Farley & Co .; C. J. Ryan & Co .; T. B. Yale & Co .; Silas Boardman ; W. M. Hoyt & Co .; C. J. Mills & Co .; C. W. Seclye ; S. Moulson, &c., &c. Bring into one view these various establishments of industry and enterprise : these manufactories of wheat, into all grades of flour ; and of iron, into stoves, tools, cutlery, ma- chines, safes, scales, engines, fences ; of leather, into boots, shoes, harness, trunks, fire-engine hose, machine and carriage gear ; of cloth, into garments of every variety and taste ; of timber, into boats that float on all our inland waters,-and furniture into all forms of beauty and usefulness ; and you will find that the city has resources aside from the many flouring mills, and those which would answer the demands of a larger population though not a run of stone were ever again to move. To the one who asks, What supports such a population? what sustains so many Banking establishments? what builds the dwellings which grace the avenues, and the cot-
35
FINANCE AND COMMERCE.
tages which beautify the humbler streets ? what patronizes the eloquent lecturer, and the sweet singer ?- we point to these scores of workshops and say, Ecce Signa ! These are the heart which sends the animating fluid all through the body, domestic and commercial.
FINANCE AND COMMERCE.
In a place with so many departments of individual indus- try and associated enterprise, financial institutions must be many, and commerce large. Such has been, and is still the case. The first Bank was the " Bank of Rochester." It was incorporated in 1824, with a capital of $250,000, its first four Presidents being : Nathaniel Rochester (deceased,) Elisha B. Strong, Levi Ward, and Frederick Bushnell (de- ceased.) The present Banks, Presidents, and Cashiers, are these :
BANKS.
PRESIDENTS.
CASHIERS.
Commercial,
- Asa Sprague.
- H. F. Atkinson.
Farmers and Mechanics',
Jacob Gould.
W. R. Seward.
Flour City,
F. Gorton.
- E. II. Vredenburgh.
Traders',
Simon Brewster.
E. C. Galusha.
Monroe County, -
Freeman Clarke. Darius Perrin.
II. J. Perrin.
Rochester,
H. G. Warner; Joseph Field.
- P. W. Handy.
Rochester City,
B. F. Young.
Union, -
Samuel. Rand.
Geo. E. Jennings.
Monroe County Savings,
E. T. Smith.
J. E. Pierpont, Sec'y.
Rochester Savings,
- William Kidd.
- E. Whalin, Treas.
L. W. Clarke.
Perrin,
-
With an aggregate capital of $2,500,000. To the credit of our finance, skill, prudence, and integrity, be it remembered that, during thirty-five years of large operations, including the disastrous 1837 and 1856, Rochester has never seen the failure of one of her Banks-the only possible exception being the "Genesee Lumber Company," an institution owned and largely conducted by non-residents. Much successful business is done through the private Banking houses of
36
FINE ARTS.
Messrs. Rochester & Bro., Ward & Bro., Powers, Amsden, Fairchild, and Keeler & Northrop.
The Commerce of Rochester, of any importance, opened with exports to Montreal and other Canadian ports, of flour, pot and pearl ash, pork, and whiskey. The aggregate value in 1818, was $380,000 ; in 1819, $400,000; in 1820, $375,900. The present means of transport of the abundant city products, are : the Erie Canal and New York Central Rail Road. East and West ; Genesee Valley Canal and Genesee Valley Rail Road, South and to New York ; Rail Road to Charlotte, and thence to the Canadas by Steamers. Twenty years ago it was written that nowhere west of the Hudson is the annual receipt of Canal tolls so great as at the city of Rochester. The same holds now in addition to exports of trees and shrubs by Rail Road, sent from one establishment alone, (Messrs. Ellwanger & Barry's,) to the amount, during the last fall, of nearly four hundred tons.
FINE ARTS.
Under this head, Music holds a first place. Where (not Boston excepted,) do the Jenny Linds, the Madams Bishop and Sontag, the Carl Formes, and other vocal celebrities, call a larger and more appreciative andience than here? And so it has always been. Twenty-five years ago, a young man from Canada, was employed by the First Presbyterian Church as organist. It soon appeared that we had among us a person of no ordinary talent. He began to write songs, and give concerts which were listened to by delighted crowds. Their fame was published, far and near. He removed to the city of New York, and there wrote ballads, which have lost none of their popularity with the lapse of time. The car never wearies of hearing "Woodman, Spare that Tree"- "The Old Arm Chair"-" Wind of the Wintry Night"- " Life on the Ocean Wave." When at the height of his fame, a metropolitan editor put this on record - "Through
37
FINE ARTS.
the discrimination and liberality of Rochester, the distin- guished vocalist and ballad composer, HENRY RUSSELL, was brought into notice." In 1835 the "Rochester Academy of Music" was organized, with ADDISON GARDINER as Presi- dent ; Messrs. F. F. Backus, L. B. Swan, N. T. Rochester, &c., as officers ; having for its object, the " cultivation of sacred music generally-particularly in churches, and for charitable purposes." This had much to do in forming the cultivated taste which now prevails. Were a tablet to be erected to Dr. F. F. Backus, the fact that he presided for forty years over the oldest choir in the place, leaving it only when compelled by declining health, should be specially no- ticed. While in the department of Landscape Painting, our city can boast no celebrity, yet the county of Monroe has sent forth one who has a world-wide reputation-CHURCH -- the artist of the "Niagara," and "Heart of the Andes." The distinguished portrait painter, G. S. GILBERT, has re- sided in Rochester for nearly thirty years. He has no su- perior in his profession. Among his many successful delin- eations is the portrait of the Rev. Dr. Penney, before alluded to, which graces the walls of the Atheneum. Examples of fine Architecture, are, the Rochester Savings and Union Banks ; and among the churches,-the Central, St. Peter's, Grace, Plymouth, and the Third Presbyterian. Many of our private residences are unusually elegant-our business blocks have no equals in the State, out of the city of New York. Take your position on the dome of the spacious Court House, on some fine day in June, when the atmos- phere is clear, and name, if you are able, that place which is more fitly entitled the "Garden City," than Rochester. The view is most picturesque, and is admired by all beholders.
PATENTS.
The suggestive genius of Rochester has been exemplified in the Patents which originated from this place. If the adage be true that "he who makes two blades of grass grow
38
SPECIALITIES.
where but one grew before is a public benefactor," not less so is he who invents machinery, which accomplishes what human limbs could not, within any reasonable limits of time and means. I am informed, upon highest authority, that the patents granted to citizens of Rochester, number not far from one hundred and fifty. A list of patents now lies be- fore me with the names of the inventors. Did limits allow, it would give me pleasure to put the whole on record. To select would seem invidions. Let it suffice to say, that the first recordedl patents bear date in 1821. and are, John G. Vought's Pills ; and Elisha Ruggles Storrs' Fire Fenders ; also, patents for Raising Canal Boats, five ; Rotary Steam Engines, four ; Smut Machines, thirty-three ; Threshing Machines, four ; and Rail Road Car Wheels, two. While many among them do little else than illustrate the inventive genius and eminent skill of the originator, others, like Jud- son's and Bush & Snow's "Engine Governors ;" and Jack- son's " Hotel Bell Indicator ;" and the " Erickson Pro- pelling Wheel," (originally patented by Benjamin M. Smith,) are of greatest importance and remuneration. The gentle- man who, with no little labor in searching volumes of records, furnished the above list adds, that next to Patterson, N. J., this city has been most productive of any in the land, of curious and useful inventions.
SPECIALITIES.
It was observed at the commencement of this narrative, that there were a few items, which do not properly belong to either of the classes named. Here we might introduce many incidents, and anecdotes, grave, amusing and ludic- rous, which have a place in the memory of our older citi- zens : which do better to talk and langh over at the " anni- versary table," than to commit to the historic page. I will, however, insert a lively description of one incident as re- cently published in one of our public journals over the sig-
39
SPECIALITIES.
nature of Joel Parker, D. D., of New York : "A colony had migrated from the west to the east side of the river, and organized the " Third Presbyterian Church,'" says Dr. P., the then Pastor : "The little school-house, in a period of six weeks from the assembling of the first nucleus of the congregation, was full. We met on a Monday morning, to provide for a larger place of worship. No larger and yet suitable place could be found. 'Let us build one,' said Mr. Bissell. 'Yes,' replied several. 'But we want one for next Sunday.' 'Let us build one for next Sunday,' was the an- swer. Expressions of astonishment at the extravagance of the man were uttered on every side. The reply was charac- teristic. It was a call for zeal, and an exhibition of his own ardor, as a means of awakening it in others. It was one of his effective speeches. 'Brethren,' said he, 'if we could make $1,000 by building a commercial storehouse and completing it by Saturday night, we should think it could be done, and would find means to do it. Things have come to a pretty pass if we cannot do as much for our Master as for mammon.' One replied, 'I admire brother Bissell's zeal, but wisdom is profitable to direct. The tim- ber for the frame is yet standing in the woods, the neces- sary funds are not provided ; it cannot be done.' 'There is no real difficulty,' was the reply. 'One set of men can be employed to fell the timber, another to square it, another to draw it to the spot, and another still to frame it. The seats ean be contracted for at one earpenter's shop, the glazing and doors at another, while other sets of men can be employed at boarding and in laying the floor. Then, with large stoves for warming, we can dispense with plastered walls and ceiling for the present, since the summer is nigh.' 'But it cannot be done,' rejoined another. 'It CAN be done,' said Mr. Bissell. 'Make me the building committee, and I will raise the means and complete the building ; and, God helping us, we will worship in our new
40
SPECIALITIES.
sanctuary next Sabbath.' The Society could do no other than authorize an attempt, in which the projector assumed all the burden. The meeting was dissolved at ten o'clock Monday morning. Tuesday, the axmen's blows were heard, and before night the squared timbers commenced to appear on the ground and the framers were seen at their work ; Thursday, it was raised and partly boarded in ; Friday, the boarding was completed and the floors laid ; Saturday morn- ing the windows and doors, benches, pulpit, stoves, and all things necessary to the completion of the edifice were in their places ; and on Sunday morning four hundred persons crowded into the new Sanctuary !" Yes, and there are gentle- men now among us who listened to many a discourse de- livered beneath the roof of that six-day-built Sanctuary. Where is the equal to this expedition and enterprise the land over !
Am I reminded that if Rochester was the birth-place of so much that is beneficial and of good report, so is it of Spiritual Rappings and of Sam Patch hardihood ? So be it- It only illustrates the imperfections adhering to all sub- lunary things, however excellent. We would that these " spots " had not obscured the brightness and defaced the beauty of our "sun," but fall back upon the adage, " Errare humanum est," confident that the vast ocean of the true, and right, and useful, will swallow the seum upon the billowy surface.
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