USA > New York > Seneca County > History of Central New York : embracing Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, Tompkins, Cortland, Schuyler, Yates, Chemung, Steuben, and Tioga Counties, Volume II > Part 22
USA > New York > Cayuga County > History of Central New York : embracing Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, Tompkins, Cortland, Schuyler, Yates, Chemung, Steuben, and Tioga Counties, Volume II > Part 22
USA > New York > Wayne County > History of Central New York : embracing Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, Tompkins, Cortland, Schuyler, Yates, Chemung, Steuben, and Tioga Counties, Volume II > Part 22
USA > New York > Ontario County > History of Central New York : embracing Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, Tompkins, Cortland, Schuyler, Yates, Chemung, Steuben, and Tioga Counties, Volume II > Part 22
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
-
829
HISTORY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
William J. Pollard was the son of Henry and Julia (Goodsell) Pollard, who were natives of Massachusetts. They were pioneers in this section and located at Seneca Falls in 1820. He spent many years as superintendent of the Gould Pump Company. Both he and his wife are buried here. Alice B. (Daniels) Pollard is the daughter of George B. and Emily (Brown) Daniels, natives of New Hampshire. He was a miller by trade and came to Seneca Falls in 1821.
James DeVillo Pollard grew up at Seneca Falls and attended the public schools. He was graduated from Mynderse Academy in 1910, and immediately became associated with the newspaper business. He succeeded his father as editor of the Courier Jour- nal upon the latter's death in 1910. This publication was founded in 1837 as a seven column four page weekly newspaper. In 1900 it became a six column, eight page edition. It has always been independent Republican in its politics.
Politically Mr. Pollard is a Republican. He began his public career as supervisor of Seneca Falls, in which capacity he served for seven years, for two years being chairman of the board. He is an active member of the Episcopal Church and has the follow- ing lodge affiliations: Pocahontas Lodge, No. 211, F. and A. M .; Salem Town Chapter, No. 173, R. A. M., past high priest; Geneva Commandery, No. 29, K. T .; Damascus Temple; B. P. O. Elks, No. 992, past exalted ruler; and Seneca Lodge, No. 104, Knights of Pythias, past chancellor. He also is identified with the Seneca Falls Business Men's Association, has served as president of the Citizens Club, and for seven years was president of the Board of Trustees of Seneca Falls Hospital.
Waterloo Mills, Inc .- Among the pioneer business establish- ments of Central New York may be mentioned the Waterloo Mills, Inc., of Waterloo, which had its origin in 1836, and for many years being known as the Waterloo Woolen Manufacturing Company.
The first building was erected in 1836 and manufactured cloth. The east mill was built in 1837, and the business prospered from the beginning. The company purchased wool from farmers in the
830
HISTORY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
community and manufactured what was then known as sheep's gray cloth. Richard P. Hunt was the founder of the business and the original officers were: Thomas Fatsinger, president; Richard P. Hunt, secretary and treasurer, and Sidney Warner, bookkeeper. In the year 1838 power rights were purchased from the Williams estate and subsequently, in 1858, the company began the manu- facture of woolen shawls. Upon the death of Mr. Hunt the office of secretary and treasurer went to Mr. Warner. In 1875 Joseph W. Patterson, of New York City, purchased the plant and became president of the institution. During the following year his son, Albert Mansfield Patterson, Sr., became president, having at that time purchased the business from his father.
The company began the manufacture of dress goods in 1882 and two years later made men's clothing materials. In 1880 Dan- iel Berry had become associated with the enterprise and was in charge of manufacturing reports, as well as pay-master, in which capacity he served for half a century. He retired in 1930, at that time being the oldest employe on the company's payroll in point of service.
Upon the death of Mr. Patterson in 1895, his brother-in-law, William Greenough, became president. He died soon after and was succeeded by Albert Mansfield Patterson, Jr., who continued as president until 1930. At the time that Albert Mansfield Pat- terson, Sr., took over the plant he modernized the machinery and it has continued as one of the leading manufacturing plants in this section to the present time. Main offices were in New York City until 1884. This was the first plant of its kind in the United States to carbonize the wool by extracting all the vegetable mat- ter from the wool without injuring the fibre. They also were the only manufacturers for many years to use the Bolette condenser, which was manufactured by the Kline-Hundt Company in Bel- gium, and they sent a representative to purchase the rights.
The following men have served as plant superintendent, in order of their service: Mr. Hutton, Calvin W. Cook, George Mur- ray, Maurice Worth, Mr. Yost, Henry I. Buttery, Charles How- ard, Henry I. Buttery, John C. Shank, W. C. Damon, and Henry
---
-
831
HISTORY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
Mansfield Buttery, present superintendent. The latter is the son of Henry I. Buttery.
The plant was sold in 1930 and has since been reorganized as the Waterloo Mills, Inc., with main offices at Rochester, New York.
At the present time the company makes a specialty of the man- ufacture of automobile cloth.
Leonard David Stafford .- To the continued success and popu- larity of the Seneca Press, Leonard D. Stafford, treasurer and managing editor of the corporation, and a newspaper man of practical knowledge, has added a valued experience that is of direct benefit to his newspaper and to the public at large. Mr. Stafford has always proven a successful factor for whatever pro- ject in journalism has had his alliance and editorial supervision, and the Seneca Press as a news and advertising medium has an unrivalled place among newspapers of its standing and circula- tion in the State of New York.
Mr. Stafford was born at Fair Haven, New York, May 28, 1876, the son of David and Elizabeth (Albring) Stafford, both deceased.
Leonard D. Stafford was educated in the public schools of Fair Haven and at the age of fourteen years entered the employ of the Fair Haven Register, where he learned the newspaper business and remained for three years. He then became publisher of the Cato Citizen and served in that capacity for twenty years. After dis- posing of the Citizen he became identified with John Kyne as managing head of the advertising department of his four news- papers, and continued there for four years. He then spent two years as a member of the display advertising department of the Syracuse Journal, and on March 1, 1919, came to Seneca Falls where he became associated with Hon. Norman J. Gould, in the management of the Press, succeeding E. Mercer Weiskotten as treasurer, general manager and editor.
The Seneca Press Publishing Company, Inc., was established in 1912 with Norman J. Gould as president, and a capital stock of $6,500.00. A seven column, eight to twelve page weekly news-
1
832
HISTORY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
paper, Republican in politics, the Press has the best equipped newspaper plant in the county, and has a circulation of 2,100. Twenty people are employed, and the job department employs fourteen men, who specialize in printing of the highest quality.
Mr. Stafford is active in civic affairs, and professionally is identified with the New York State Press Association and New York State Editorial Association. His lodge affiliations are: Pocahontas Lodge, No. 211, F. and A. M .; Salem Town Chapter, R. A. M. No. 173. He holds membership in the Presbyterian Church.
On December 15, 1898, Mr. Stafford married Miss Ella Smith, of Cato, the daughter of Randall A. and Emma (Shoemaker) Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Stafford have three daughters: E. Ger- trude, Winifred E., and Ella Louise. Mrs. Stafford passed to eternal rest May 24, 1931, and is buried in Union Hill Cemetery, Cato, New York.
William Louis McGrath .- One of the able business executives of Elmira, widely known throughout Central New York, is Wil- liam Louis McGrath, who is vice-president and chief engineer of the Eclipse Machine Company. He was born at Mamaroneck, New York, September 6, 1885, the son of William Henry and Ellen Cynthia (Hawkins) McGrath.
William Henry McGrath was born at St. Louis, Missouri, and his wife was a native of Massachusetts. He went to Fitch- burg, Massachusetts, and was interested in engineering work there for the Fitchburg Steam Engine Works. Later, he located in New York City as chief engineer of the Brush Electric Com- pany, and he installed the first electric arc lights on the streets of New York City. He also spent a number of years with the Ft. Wayne (Indiana) Electric Works, at which time he was a pioneer in the installation of artificial refrigeration plants in New Or- leans, Louisiana, and other engineering lines. He subsequently went to Mexico on mining interests and met with an accidental death there in 1912. He is buried in Mexico. His wife died in
WILLIAM LOUIS MCGRATH
833
HISTORY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
1915 and is buried at Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Their only child was William Louis, the subject of this sketch.
William Louis McGrath is a graduate of the grade schools of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and Fitchburg High School. He received a degree from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute at Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1907, and began his engineering profession with the Royal Motor Works, manufacturers of motorcycles. Mr. McGrath remained with that concern until 1911, when he went with the Pope Manufacturing Company, at Westfield, Massachu- setts, later reorganized as the Westfield Manufacturing Company. In 1916 Mr. McGrath came to Elmira with the Eclipse Machine Company, in charge of engineering, and later became secretary of the company. When it was merged with the Bendix Corpora- tion in 1928 he became vice-president. When the Bendix Aviation Corporation was formed in 1929, Mr. McGrath became vice-president of this company as well. Mr. McGrath is of an inventive turn of mind and many patents in this country and for- eign countries have been issued on his inventions; many of these inventions have been very outstanding. He is a director of the First National Bank and Trust Company of Elmira.
In 1911 Mr. McGrath was united in marriage with Miss Clara Marble, of Worcester, Massachusetts, the daughter of Edwin H. and Emma (Moulton) Marble, natives of Massachusetts. Mr. Marble is president of the Curtiss & Marble Machine Works, of Worcester. To Mr. and Mrs. McGrath have been born four sons: 1. Donald Marble, born at Westfield, Massachusetts, in 1912. He is a graduate of Culver Military Academy, class of 1931, and at- tends Cornell University. 2. Malcolm Cushing, born at Westfield, Massachusetts, in 1913, a graduate of Elmira Free Academy, now a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy, at Annapolis, Maryland. He is an Eagle Scout. 3. Roger Henry, born at West- field, Massachusetts, in 1915, attends Elmira Free Academy. He is an Eagle Scout. 4. Richard Moulton, born at Elmira, in 1918, attends grammar school in Elmira.
Mr. McGrath is a Republican, a member of Park Congrega- tional Church, and belongs to the Watkins Glen Yacht Club, the Rotary Club, Elmira City Club, and Elmira Country Club. He is
834
HISTORY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
a member of the Executive Committee of the Elmira Area Coun- cil of Boy Scouts and National Representative. He is Commodore of the Sea Scouts, and is vice-president of the Association of Com- merce. Mr. McGrath is a director in the following concerns: Bendix Aviation Corporation; Bendix Corporation; Eclipse Avia- tion Corporation; Eclipse Machine Company; Bendix Eclipse, Ltd., of Walkerville, Canada; Eclipse Textile Devices, Inc .; Hydraulic Brake Company; Pioneer Instrument Company; Ben- dix Research Corporation; Scintilla Magneto Company, and the Bendix Products Company. He also holds membership in the Sons of the American Revolution and his Cushing ancestry dates back to 1638 in this country.
Mr. McGrath and his family enjoy cruising and sailing and own "Seneca, II," a cruiser; "Senecette," a runabout, and "Senec- wind," a sailboat. The family has a summer home at Peach Or- chard Point on Seneca Lake, and lives at 960 West Church Street, Elmira.
During the World War Mr. McGrath was closely associated with the United States Ordnance Department and the United States Signal Corps. He was also in charge of the "Engineering Forces" for this area as Chairman of Engineering, War Resources Committee, Region No. 6.
Thomas W. Pollard .- After a remarkably fine business career and a useful record as a citizen, Thomas W. Pollard, president of the State Bank of Seneca Falls, died February 4, 1932. He was born at Waterloo, New York, September 6, 1870, the son of A. Seymour and Frances A. (White) Pollard.
A. Seymour Pollard was born at Cayuga, New York, and his wife was a native of Port Byron. He was educated at Auburn and as a young man removed to New York City with his parents. Later he engaged in business at Waterloo as a furrier, and sub- sequently was interested in the insurance and real estate business at Seneca Falls. Mr. Pollard died April 18, 1909, and his wife died November 29, 1914. Both are buried at Seneca Falls. He was a
835
HISTORY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
Democrat and held numerous public offices. He was a prominent member of the Episcopal Church and was a 32nd degree Mason. To Mr. and Mrs. Pollard were born two children: 1. Thomas W., the subject of this sketch. 2. Charlotte E., lives at Seneca Falls.
A. Seymour Pollard was the son of Thomas C. and Sarah Maria Pollard, natives of Cayuga County. He was interested in the fur business in New York City for a number of years. Thomas C. Pollard was the son of Thomas and Lavinia (Church) Pollard. Both were natives of Bainbridge, Vermont, and in 1776 settled at Seneca Falls. They later removed to Cayuga, where Mr. Pollard had extensive banking interests.
Thomas W. Pollard received his early education in the schools of Seneca Falls and was graduated from Mynderse Academy. When nineteen years of age he entered the services of the old Partridge Bank as a clerk. Thirteen years later it was reorgan- ized as the State Bank of Seneca Falls. Mr. Pollard's ability was recognized in his early youth and for twenty-seven years he served as cashier, being elected to the office of president of the institution in 1930 to succeed W. P. Elwell. Under his able direc- tion the bank continued to exert a strong influence in the finan- cial life of the community. During his service of more than forty years in the bank, Mr. Pollard had gained the confidence and esteem of the entire community.
Mr. Pollard was a devout member of Trinity Episcopal Church and was senior warden and member of the vestry. He was one of the founders of the Citizens Club and for thirty years served as trustee of Pocahontas Lodge, No. 211, F. and A. M., being Master in 1898-99. He also belonged to the Seneca Falls Country Club.
Mr. Pollard always found time for helping every worthy en- deavor, and served for many years as a member of the water commission. Much credit is due him for his efforts in working out a plan whereby the village purchased its own plant and kept it out of politics. Mr. Pollard's life was one of service to others, and one in which he fully assumed every responsibility with credit. His business career was honest and upright and his sterling integ- rity served to perpetuate the family name, which has been a familiar one and interwoven with the history of Seneca Falls for more than a century.
836
HISTORY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
Lt. Col. Frederick W. Lester, M. D .- A veteran of the World War, Doctor Lester is recognized as one of the eminent physi- cians and surgeons of Central New York and has an extensive practice at Seneca Falls. Throughout his career Colonel Lester has successfully sought the highest standards of his profession and his excellent record both as a physician and surgeon is based upon his steadfast zeal for the advancement of the profession as well as upon a lifelong training both in his boyhood home and in the leading medical schools and hospitals and his efficient work during the World War. Besides his recognized prominence in practice, he is one of the foremost citizens of Seneca Falls and a supporter of every movement for public welfare.
Colonel Lester was born at Seneca Falls, July 14, 1870, the son of Dr. Elias and Caroline (Foote) Lester. A complete sketch of Dr. Elias Lester appears elsewhere in this history.
Colonel Lester's primary education was received in the grade schools of Seneca Falls and Mynderse Academy, from which school he was graduated in 1888. Following this he taught school at Kings Ferry, New York, for three years, reading medicine with his father during vacation periods. He then entered the Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City, graduating in 1894, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. While in New York he served three months as interne in Roosevelt Hospital. On July 14, 1894, Doctor Lester began the practice of medicine at Seneca Falls. In the summer of 1903 he took graduate work in surgery at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and in the summer of 1915 he studied at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Mary- land. He has specialized in surgery in recent years.
In 1894 Doctor Lester was elected a member of the Seneca County Medical Society, and in 1907 he was elected treasurer of the Medical Society of the County of Seneca, the following year becoming its secretary, vice-president in 1909, and president in 1910. He again became secretary in 1914, and secretary-treasurer during 1915-17. He is also a member of the New York State Med- ical Society, a Fellow of the American Medical Association, and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is a member of
837
HISTORY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
the associate staff of surgeons of Geneva General Hospital, and a member of the Seneca Falls Hospital. He has twice been elected coroner of the north jury district.
During the World War Colonel Lester served in the Medical Corps, United States Army, being commissioned captain on June 28, 1917, and major on May 3, 1918. He served in this country from August 11, 1917, until August 9, 1918, and overseas from August 19, 1918, until July 3, 1919, his last assignment in France being in charge of Base Hospital No. 51, at Toul. On July 26, 1924, he was commissioned lieutenant colonel, United States Offi- cers Medical Reserve Corps, and in 1929 was again commissioned for a five year period.
Colonel Lester has contributed the following papers to medical literature: Case Report-"Irido Choroiditis" (Syphilitic), Albany Medical Annals, January, 1898; Case Report-"Phytolacca Pois- oning," New York State Medical Journal, July, 1911; "Treatment of Varicose Ulcers of Leg," New York State Medical Journal of Medicine, October, 1915; "Ulcer of Thigh (Syphilitic) Cured by Intravenous Salvarsan," Crouse-Irving Bulletin, April, 1916; "Observations on Diagnosis and Treatment in Cases of Skull Fracture," Crouse-Irving Bulletin, March, 1917; "Omentopexy in Cirrhosis of the Liver," Report of Case, American Medical Asso- ciation Journal, April 10, 1926.
Colonel Lester was married on June 9, 1897, to Miss Elizabeth Campbell, of New York City. To Colonel and Mrs. Lester four children were born: 1. Lora, married Dr. William H. Dunn. They reside in the Cornell Medical Centre, New York City. 2. Miss Car- oline Avery, resides in Albany, New York. 3. John Campbell, married Virginia Potts, of Baltimore, Maryland. He is a lieuten- ant in the United States Navy, stationed at U. S. Submarine Base, Coco Solo, Canal Zone. 4. Agnes Throupe, married Harry V. Wade. They reside in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Politically, Colonel Lester is a Republican. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, Pocahontas Lodge No. 211, F. and A. M., Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, American Legion, and Mili- tary Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.
838
HISTORY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
Dr. Elias Lester, M. D .- A veteran of the Civil War and for many years a leading figure in the medical and professional affairs of Central New York, Doctor Elias Lester was a foremost factor in civic matters and public utilities, his counsel and official direction being accorded an honored place in the record of the general advancement of the community. He was an exponent both of good health and of a continuous regard for wholesome and practical dealing in public office for the benefit of the public.
Dr. Elias Lester was born at Genoa, Cayuga County, New York, May 23, 1836, the son of Elihu and Lucy (Bacon) Lester. His grandfather, Ebenezer Lester, with his wife, Cynthia (Avery) Lester, and two brothers, Charles and Daniel Lester, had come to New York at an early day from New London, Connecticut, mak- ing the trip on horseback to the then new country of the Cayugas, bringing with them $3,000 in gold with which to purchase a right to reside in and possess a portion of the new territory. The fam- ily had come originally from England and settled near New Lon- don, where they lived for several generations, taking an active part in the early life of the colony of Connecticut. The records, going back to Revolutionary times, show that many Lesters and Averys were killed at the battle of Fort Griswold (Groton) near New London, Connecticut.
Elihu Lester was a farmer of very good means and his sons were reared to the hard and unremitting toil of the farm. Living in a country district and being one of seven children, Elias Lester had advantages of education and advancement that were slight, yet even at an early age he manifested those traits of clearness of thought and decision of character which distinguished him as a man, and which contributed so greatly to his professional success. With an intense longing for education strong in his heart, he with some difficulty attended the district school during the winters and later took an academic course at the Genoa Academy, after which he taught a district school for three years, attaining no small degree of success as a teacher. In 1857 having reached his major- ity, he was induced through the general excitement incident to the opening up of western farm lands to join an expedition to the great West and take up a claim. Approximately seventy pioneers
839
HISTORY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
proceeded by rail from Auburn, New York, to St. Joseph, Mis- souri, at that time the extreme western outpost of railroad traffic. From St. Joseph wagon trains were employed to carry the set- tlers to their destination-"a tract of land near the center of the State of Kansas"-not far from the present city of Atchison. Here they founded Cayuga City, where Elias Lester took up a claim of 160 acres and built a small house or shack with a view of further improving the property, but sickness prevailed. After a year of sickness he sold his claim for what then seemed a good sum, $300, and returned to Genoa. His sickness while in the west with little or no medical care, made a deep impression upon his mind and he decided to become a physician. He made the neces- sary arrangements and began the study of medicine with Dr. Cyrus Powers, of Moravia, New York, and lived with his uncle, Elias Rogers, of that place. The times preceding the Civil War filled the air with excitement of the coming conflict, which was at hand, but Doctor Lester did not enlist as he desired to get estab- lished in his profession and so went to New York and pursued his studies at the College of Physicians and Surgeons. He returned home in 1861 and in that year resumed his work with Doctor Powers at Moravia. However, during the same year in response to a call for medical cadets for the service he went to Washing- ton and was accepted for the service and sent to Washington Street Hospital at Alexandria, Virginia, where he served one year and five months. While there he dressed the wounds of the sol- diers who fought at the first battle of Bull Run. He afterward served for seven months at the Hygeia Hotel Hospital at Fortress Monroe. He then resigned his commission and returned to New York City to complete his medical studies. At the close of his col- lege year in 1863 he was appointed assistant surgeon of the 14th New York Cavalry and received his medical diploma, being or- dered to the Department of the Gulf. With the exception of seven months of hospital services in New Orleans Doctor Lester re- mained with his regiment until the close of the war. In 1864 he was promoted to full surgeon and afterwards acted as surgeon of the brigade during the Red River campaign under General Banks, until October, 1864, when he resigned.
840
HISTORY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
Immediately after his return from the war Doctor Lester located in the village of Corinth, Saratoga County, New York, and on December 22, 1864, married Miss Caroline Foote, of Venice, Cayuga County. They were the parents of four children.
After eleven months of practice at Corinth, Doctor Lester removed to Seneca Falls, in October, 1865, buying the practice of Dr. Franklin B. Seelye, who retired in that year. He became a member of the Seneca County Medical Society in 1866, its vice- president in 1876, president in 1877, and was for two years its treasurer in 1880-82. In 1911 he was made an honorary member. He was also one of the founders of the New York State Medical Association and was a Fellow in good standing during the life of that organization.
In 1894, during an epidemic of smallpox, which seemed to assume threatening proportions, Doctor Lester was called upon to take charge of the situation as special health officer for the village of Seneca Falls, employed by the village to treat the cases in quarantine. He took the matter in his usual forceful manner, treated the cases, saving eight out of nine who were stricken, and afterwards successfully defended two damage suits brought against him growing out of acts of quarantine, performed by his orders, the jury in each case bringing in a verdict of "no cause of action."
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.