USA > New York > Cayuga County > History of Cayuga County, New York > Part 39
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47
HENRY A. HOMPE, the well-known contractor, painter, and decorator of 15 Exchange street, is a native of this city, and has been for many years identified with this business, which was estab- lished by his father (the late M. H. Hompe) a short time after serving with his company (Captain Gavigan's) throughout the Rebellion. Martimus H. Hompe was a native of Holland. He
481
BIOGRAPHICAL
came to Auburn in 1856, and was for a number of years in charge of the old furniture establishment of Robert Peet on Market street. When the first call for volunteers came, he enlisted and participated with his company in all the engagements of Company D, Nineteenth New York State Volunteers, and after he was honorably discharged at the close of his service he returned to the furniture business for four years with Mr. Peet. Mr. Hompe then started in business in house painting and decorating. The business prospered and he did the work upon many of the principal structures and mansions of Auburn, among others the Auburn Savings Bank, and the D. M. Osborne residence. In 1879, Henry A. Hompe, was admitted to a partnership; their location then was 35 Market street; here they continued to prosper exceedingly, employing from forty to eighty men daily during the season. In 1907 the elder member of the firm retired and it is now conducted at 15 Exchange street and is still known as Hompe & Co., the partners being Henry A. Hompe and William J. Aldrich.
Henry A. Hompe has a family of five children. Henry Alexander, a graduate of Williams College, who is representing Allen & Bacon, a well-known publishing house in the southern states with headquarters in Wilmington; Isabella, a graduate of Wheelock Kindergarten Training School and now under engagement with the Auburn Board of Education at the Division street school; George, a graduate of the Academic High School, now in the employ of a large wholesale grocery establishment in Auburn, and two younger children, Louise and Robert, attending school.
M. CURRY TURPIN, superintendent of the Auburn Light, Heat & Power Co., and of the Auburn Subway Electric Company, is a native of Richmond, Va. After a preliminary education he at- tended the Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Auburn, Ala., and later Cornell University, class of 1902. After leaving Cornell, Mr. Turpin studied electricity practically with the General Electric Company
31
482
HISTORY OF CAYUGA COUNTY
at Schenectady for one year, and was then sent by that great com- pany to their Philadelphia office where he remained for three years as assistant district engineer. On January 1, 1907, he was offered and accepted his present position in this city, where he has done much to improve and facilitate their extensive operations. Mr. Turpin is a member of the Auburn City Club, Owasco Country Club, and the Order of Elks. He is also identified with other social and local affairs. The Auburn Heat, Light & Power Company is a corporation which supplies Auburn with heat, light, power and steam, and also acts as a distributing agent for power sent here from Niagara Falls.
JOHN J. WHITE, one of the best known insurance men in Auburn, is a native of Rhode Island but came to this city at the age of seven and was educated in the local schools. Before engaging in the insurance business he was assistant superintendent for the American Wringer Company for twenty-two years. He is manager for the National Protective Legion, a life, accident and weekly benefit company, which was organized under the laws of the State of New
York in 1890. Mr. White was placed in charge of the Auburn branch in 1905, which had then been established for seven years. The home office of the company is located at Waverly, N. Y. It is a fraternal organization of 255,000 members, and it possesses a unique and attractive feature in that it declares and pays dividends.
Mr. White is well and widely known in several social and fra- ternal orders. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Auburn Lodge No. 474; of the Woodmen and of the Sons of Veterans and also of the Foresters. He is State Chief Forester of the Woodmen. He is also widely known and very popular as an entertainer and amateur actor, and gives perform- ances all over the state. He had charge of the last great minstrel show given by the Elks in Auburn, which was considered one of the finest ever presented to an Auburn audience. For some
483
BIOGRAPHICAL
time he had the management of the Dabinett-White Military Band and also of the Second Separate Company Band. In some of his theatrical specialties he is ably assisted by his daughter, Miss Helen Janet White. Mr. White was alderman for the seventh ward two terms and served seven years in the Second Separate Company. He is at present the national president of the District Managers' Association of the United States of the N. P. L.
GLENN F. BRIGGS, wholesale and retail shoe dealer, Auburn, N. Y., has been a traveling representative for Dunn & McCarthy for over twenty-four years. He opened a retail store at 81 Genesee street in 1892, which he still owns, and his wholesale warerooms at 36 Clark street were established January 1, 1907. Mr. Briggs conducts a specialty business, selling Dunn & McCarthy's shoes by catalogue. His trade extends throughout the entire United States. He also visits the leading Western trade centers in the interest of Dunn & McCarthy.
JOHN H. POST, was born in Throopsville, Cayuga County, N. Y., and received his education in the common schools of his native town and at the Auburn High School. After spending three years with the Dunning Hardware Company he was two years in the wholesale saddlery hardware business in Syracuse. He then entered the employ of Choate Bros, hardware merchants, and remained with them for eight years, when he became a partner in the firm of Post & Duncan, which succeeded Choate Brothers, in April, 1905. In July, 1906, Mr. Post bought out his partner's interest in the business and is now sole proprietor. This house was established in 1843, by Joseph Choate & Sons. In 1856 the firm became Choate Brothers. In 1871, they moved to the present business stand and were the proprietors until April, 1905, as stated above. Mr. Post is a member of the Benevolent and Protective
484
HISTORY OF CAYUGA COUNTY
Order of Elks and the Royal Arcanum. His parents were John H. and Rachael (Dunning) Post. His father was a native of Cayuga County. His grandfather, John Post, was one of the early settlers on Owasco Lake. Post and Peterson once owned nearly all the land on the west shore of the lake. John H. Post married Mary Brightman of Auburn, whose parents were natives of England.
H. H. FELL, of 61 Franklin street, is one of the best known plumbers of Auburn, who does a large business in sanitary plumbing, gas and steam fitting, hot water heating, tin and sheet iron work. In 1903, he succeeded his brother E. M. Fell in the business at 6 1 Franklin street, and it has grown steadily under his management. He employs from four to seven men according to the season of the year and personally supervises all work himself. He is a native of Cayuga County as was his father before him. His grandfather Moses T. Fell, came to this county from Bucks County, Pa. H. H. Fell's parents were J. E. and Lydia S. (Powell) Fell. His wife was Carrie Baldwin, a native of the town of Venice, and educated at Auburn.
JAMES K. BUST, carriage dealer, was born in Tonawanda, N. Y., April 8, 1863, and received his education in the schools of his native city. After a large experience sailing on the lakes he settled in Weedsport in 1894, and embarked in the carriage and wagon busi- ness. He remained in Weedsport for fifteen years, and then came to Auburn in 1902, starting in a modest way at his present stand No. 6-8-10 Dill street. At first he dealt in wagons and sleighs only, but his business increased rapidly and to-day he carries a large stock of carriages, sleighs, wagons and horse furnishings and occupies two large floors with his varied stock. Mr. Bust is a member of Weeds- port Lodge No. 385 Free and Accepted Masons, and is widely known as a thoroughly upright and reliable business man.
485
BIOGRAPHICAL
DAN C. PITT, manager of the Auburn Branch of the Standard Oil Company, was born at Wells, Pa., in the year 1863 and was educated at Elmira College, Elmira, N. Y. His entire business life has been spent in the employ of the Standard Oil Company with which he has been associated for twenty-five years; first in Elmira, then in Spracuse, and finally as manager in Auburn-a recognition of the ability and fidelity he had shown in previous positions.
The public mind is becoming enlightened, even if slowly, as to the true source of the great success of the Standard Oil Company. That phenomenal success has not been produced either by the miracles or the machinations of a master mind, but by the active, honest, able efforts of a large number of capable men managing, with consummate ability, the various departments and branches of the corporation. So, Mr. Pitt is in charge of the Auburn office with its nine sub-stations and its territorial district embracing one hundred and twenty-four towns. The sub-stations are located at Geneva, Canandaigua, Lyons, Locke, Levanna, Skaneateles, Weeds- port, Seneca Falls and Ovid. Mr. Pitt exercises a close personal supervision over each station, and the business done in every town in his territory, traveling much of his time and seeing that the public receives the best possible service, and his company the best possible results. A large variety of oils and oil consuming utensils are sold, including stoves, heaters, lamps, and everything that goes there- with. The Auburn office is under the direct supervision of the Albany office of the Standard Oil Company.
Mr. Pitt married Jennie Lougher, and they have one son, Dan C. Pitt, Jr. His parents were J. L. and Irene Pitt of Wells, Pa. His fraternal organizations are the Oddfellows and the Masonic frater- nities, his affiliation with the latter being as a member of Auburn Lodge No. 431 Free and Accepted Masons. He has been in charge of the Auburn office of the Standard Oil for the past eight years.
486
HISTORY OF CAYUGA COUNTY
LEWIS F. LEONARD, dealer in coal, has built up a lucrative busi- ness in Auburn. His office is at 8c Genesee street. Mr. Leonard keeps a number of assistants and several teams busy. His yards have a capacity of three thousand five hundred tons, and he handles only the choicest productions of the Pennsylvania mines. Mr. Leonard is a native of Owasco, born December 23, 1871. He received his education in the public schools of Auburn and also graduated from the high school and after this spent four years as a bookkeeper in the employ of G. W. Richardson & Son. After sever- ing his connection with Richardson & Son, he was associated with his brother Edward in the bicycle business until July 1, 1898, when he succeeded O. C. Hall in the coal business. Mr. Leonard is recognized as a business man of the strictest integrity and sagacity and his coal business is one of the most important enterprises of Auburn.
J. ARTHUR HUNGERFORD of 95 State street, the representative man in his line in Auburn, established his present business in April, 1904. His great specialtiesa re roofing and cornice work, and he has done this work on nearly all the best buildings in the city. He employs on the average, a force of thirty men and superintends every contract himself, insuring thorough and satisfactory work. Mr. Hungerford learned his trade in Syracuse and had twenty-one years' practical experience in the business in that city before he started in Auburn. He is equipped in every way to handle contracts of any size and has gained the reputation of being a thoroughly reliable and honorable business man. Mr. Hun- gerford married Alice Duplisa and they have a family of four children. His parents were Edwin F. and Louise (Bears) Hungerford.
FRED L. SWART, optician, corner of Genesee and Green streets, Auburn, is a graduate of the Philadelphia Opticial College, class of
487
BIOGRAPHICAL
'91. Mr. Swart has been very successful in his profession, and is recognized by his colleagues as being one of the most expert and scientific in the profession. He has been repeatedly elected to important official positions in the State and National Optical Societies. He has served as president of the State Optical Society which position he resigned after two years' service, also vice- president and treasurer of the National Optical Society, and refused election as president. He is alderman in the ninth ward, City of Auburn, and has been elected three timesto that position. Alderman Swart is also identified with local, social, and bene- volent institutions. He is a high-up Mason, a Shriner, an Elk, and a member of the City Club. His family consists of a wife and two children, both boys, who are named Leland and Robert.
M. S. Goss, has been continuously before the public as a coal dealer for more than twenty-four years, and in that time has built up a large business in Auburn. His office is on Genesee street, and his yards are located on Baker Avenue, with direct communica- tion with the Lehigh Valley Railroad. Mr. Goss was born in the town of Aurelius, Cayuga County, N. Y., and was educated in the district schools of Aurelius and the Auburn High School.
J. C. WEEKS of Auburn, is a native of Cortland County. He lived in Scipio twenty-five years and Auburn has been his home since leaving that town. Mr. Weeks has been successful in estab- lishing important business interests here. He is identified with the Birdsall Engine Company and is one of the proprietors of the Auburn Draying Company. He also owns a magnificent stock farm near Auburn, known as the Evergreen Stock Farm, upon which he keeps a herd of seventy-five very fine imported stock. He and his father have owned this farm for forty-one years. Prior to that time it was in the possession of Harvey Close for sixty-five
4SS
HISTORY OF CAYUGA COUNTY
years, so that the farm has been owned by only two families in one hundred and six years, or since the days of the first settlers in this section. Improved methods of sanitation and cleanliness are strictly enforced upon this model farm and its productions are unexcelled. Mr. Weeks has a family consisting of a wife and five living children, namely: May, Frank, Alice, Grace and Ruth.
JOHN L. ALNUTT, contractor and builder, was born in the town of Aurelius, Cayuga County, where his early life was passed upon a farm. He received his education in the public schools and Oak- wood Seminary. He then learned the trade of carpenter, and with the exception of a year spent in Omaha, Nebraska, his work has been in and about Auburn. During the past ten years he has followed contracting, erecting some of the best public and private buildings in the city. Mr. Alnutt is a member of the First Baptist Church, and served one term as president of the Young Men's Christian Association. He is also president of the Auburn Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and is a member and past director of the Auburn Business Men's Association. Mr. Alnutt married Arvilla May Garling, daughter of William Garling of Seneca Falls, N. Y. They have one son, Henry R., who is a student in the Auburn High School
CHARLES A. WRIGHT, was born in the town of Moravia, Cayuga County, N. Y., October 30, 1871. He was prepared for college at the Moravia High School, 1891, and the Auburn High School, graduating from the latter with the class of 1893. He then took a course in Williams College, graduating with the class of 1897. In 1899, after studying law for two years with Wright & Cushing, he entered Columbia College Law School. Mr. Wright passed his bar examinations in 1901 and was graduated in 1902. After being admitted to the bar he immediately began the practice of his profession.
489
BIOGRAPHICAL
During his college career both at Williams and Columbia, he took an active part in athletics and was particularly distinguished as a member of the football teams. On January 25, 1902, Mr. Wright married Mary D. Babcock. In the fall of 1907 he was nominated for city judge by the Republicans of Auburn. Mr. Wright is a son of James A. Wright, Esq., of Moravia.
FRANK E. TEN EYCK, president of the Leather & Brass Manu- facturing Company of Auburn, N Y., is one of the best known inventors and workers in brass in the state. In 1898 the Leather & Brass Company was formed by him, and started operations in Seneca Falls, but moved to Auburn in 1901, and was incorporated at that time. The Leather & Brass Manufacturing Company's factory is located at No. 24 East Genesee street. Mr. Ten Eyck opened this factory in 1907 and equipped it for the manufacture of brass specialties, of which he has eleven different appliances of his own invention, but makes any article required He does a large business in automobile specialties. In 1894, Frank E. Ten Eyck married Maud Lewis and they have one daughter, Lida M.
AUBURN BUSINESS SCHOOL. This is the largest and most important business school in Cayuga County, and was founded in 1890. In 1896 the present principal and proprietor, Mr. H. F. Crumb became its head, and each year since that date has witnessed an increase in the reputation of the institution and a corresponding increase in the number of students availing themselves of the superior business training to be obtained at this school. The definite object aimed at in Auburn Business School is to educate young men and women to such a degree of proficiency as to make them good, efficient office employees. How well that object is being attained is proven by the ever-increasing popularity of the school. Mr. Crumb never sends a young man or young woman to
490
HISTORY OF CAYUGA COUNTY
a position unless he is perfectly satisfied the student is thoroughly able to meet the most exacting requirements of the place, and this care on his part has given the school a deservedly high reputation among business and professional men.
The worth of the school under Mr. Crumb's management is well illustrated by its growth. When he took charge the school had about seven hundred square feet of floor space, and a small class of students. To-day over 2,200 feet of space is occupied and the daily attendance exceeds one hundred pupils.
H. F. Crumb was born in Delaware, Ohio, and was educated at the Ohio Wesleyan College. He has been actively engaged in business school work since 1885, and is keenly alive to American business methods and interests. He realizes that technical educa- tion, no matter how thorough, is not all the equipment necessary for a student preparing for an office position, but that character is an indispensable qualification for success. Industry, honesty , fidelity, are inculcated in this school with as much zeal as short- hand or bookkeeping.
CHARLES E. TUXILL, president of the Tuxill Realty and Improve- ment Company has offices at 307-308 and 309 Auburn Savings Bank Building. Mr. Tuxill has been engaged in the real esate business for eight years, and has been particularly successful in developing properties. He opened up "Tuxill Square" in this city, upon which he has a beautiful home. He also opened up Woodlawn avenue and other smaller tracts. He is also interested in Rochester real estate where he has constructed and sold over sixty-five houses.
In February, 1907, he was the promoter of the Tuxill Realty and Improvement Company which was incorporated at that time with a capitalization of $100,000.
491
BIOGRAPHICAL
He is a member of the Masonic Lodge and is also an Elk. He is a member of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been a trustee since 1903, and has been on the official board since 1897.
ROBERT SCHICHT, printer and manufacturer of paper and cigar boxes, established this business in 1871. His plant occupies over ten thousand feet of floor space and is fully equipped with the latest printing and box making machinery. He employs between twenty and thirty people.
Mr. Schicht is a native of Austria, but has lived in America since 1866. He is a member of the Order of Elks and of the Knights of Pythias. For three successive terms he represented his ward as alderman in the city council and later was elected and served a term as police commissioner.
Mr. Schicht married Mary J. Rhoades and they have three chil- dren, all of whom are married, namely, Mrs. Albert I. Mahar of New York City, Mrs. Frank E. Wilkinson of Auburn and Wil- liam A. Schicht who is now associated with his father in business. William A. Schicht was connected with the Cayuga County National Bank for eight years as bookkeeper and was teller in the Auburn Trust Company before forming his present business relations.
ANTON MANTEL was born in the Tyrol, Austria, and came to America in 1868, settling in Syracuse, where he remained eight years. In 1874, he came to Auburn where he has since resided. He worked for Clark & Barnes for a time and in 1877, started in business for himself as a shoemaker. He had learned not only the trade of shoemaker but also that of mason. In 1879 he opened his saloon, and in 1883 built the Mantel block at 17 Water street. In 1906-7 he built his fine brick barn on the Outlet near Garden street, and is a large property owner in the city.
492
HISTORY OF CAYUGA COUNTY
Anton Mantel married Amelia Englert of Cayuga County, February 2, 1875, and they have a family of five children, namely, Marie, now Mrs. Kaiser, Elizabeth, now Mrs. Snyder, Frank A., a graduate of Cornell University, Othelia and Pauline.
H. E. YORKER, of 7 South street, electrical engineer and con- tractor, established himself in the electrical business in Auburn, November 17, 1903. He was at that time a graduate in the science of electricity and has had a practical experience of fourteen years in electrical work. In January, 1905, he changed the name of his establishment and now conducts the business under the title of H. E. Yorker, Electric Company. He does all kinds of electrical contracting, but makes a specialty of electrical decorations for celebrations. He also deals in electrical supplies of all kinds and does a large business. He has had a large experience in installing electric plants all over the country. Mr. Yorker is a native of Syracuse and was educated in that city. There also he learned the electrical business, having taken it up immediately after graduating from the High School.
Mr. Yorker married Radie Gibson of Syracuse, and they have one daughter, Leuella.
DOBBS & SON, florists, Auburn, N. Y. This business was established in 1885, by D. M. Dunning, but was purchased by the elder Dobbs in 1892. The firm became Dobbs & Son in 1905, the partners being George Dobbs and William G. Dobbs. They have a very fine greenhouse, known as West End Gardens, at 145 S Division street, a notable feature of which is a magnificent display of hot house grapes, to which one department is entirely devoted.
William G. Dobbs is a member of the National Organization of American Florists and Ornamental Horticulturists and of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Mr. George Dobbs is an Englishman by birth. He came to America in 1880, and has been
493
BIOGRAPHICAL
a florist for over thirty-five years. This firm took three diplomas and a medal at the Chicago World's Fair, Pan-American and St. Louis expositions for their exhibit of indoor grapes.
A. C. MACCOLL of Auburn, fiscal agent for the Mexican Lumber Company with office in Temple Court is among the enterprising and progressive business men of the city. He is a native of Caledonia, N. Y., and attended school there. For sixteen years Mr. MacColl travelled in the interests of the lumber business. He was identified with the International Lumber Company in 1906, following which he became one of the organizers of the Mexican American Lumber Company. The operations of this company extend throughout the United States and Mexico; we find among its officers and directors such well and favorably known men as W. H. Hollister, H. A. Smith, C. J. Lewis, E. A. Stevens, Henry Danziger, Fred F. Irish and others.
Mr. MacColl is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and iden- tified with leading social and commercial interests here.
GEORGE T. CLARKE was born in Bristol, Somersetshire, England, and came to the United States by way of Canada, in 1887. He settled in Auburn in the same year and worked for D. M. Osborne in the rolling mills for four years. He was subsequently a keeper in the Insane Criminal Asylum for three years and eight months, after which he was engaged in the shoe business for a time and spent about nine years in the Clapp Manufacturing Company, after which he became gardener for D. M. Dunning and there learned the business in which he is now engaged.
In February, 1903, Mr. Clarke embarked in the business of florist and has a finely appointed greenhouse on Clark road near the city line. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, the Maccabees, Sons of St. George and the Society of Ben Hur. Mr. Clarke married E. Caroline Tutcher and they have two children, George Reginald
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.