USA > New York > Monroe County > History of Monroe county, New York with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, Palatial residences > Part 54
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" In his death, crowned as it was with years and honors, he resembled an ancient oak falling mightily and majestically to the earth after braving the storms of un- counted winters. He contended long with disease, but the last enemy, Death, prevailed, and he bowed his venerable heal and died. Ilis pure and neful life affords an impressive lesson to the profession. Ilo contined himself mainly,
though not exclusively, to the single object of professional pursuits. Sometimes, indeed, he listened to the call of his countrymen and entered publie life, but he always returned with alacrity to his profissional labors."
ISAAC IlILLS was born in Lennox, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, August 15, 1798. He studied his profession with John C. Spencer, the eminent jurist of Canandaigua, and also with John Dickson, of Bloomfield. He was educated at Union college, and was a classmate uf Wm. II. Seward He was admitted to the bar in August, 1824, and commenced practice in this city, and was the first recorder of the city, and assisted in drawing the original charter. Upon the organization of the Rochester Savings Bank in 1831. he was chusen its attorney, a position which he has filled from that time to the present.
ROBERT BRECKENRIDGE, uncle of Juhn C. Breckenridge. came to this eity, and commenced the practice of law with Daniel D. Barnard, at that time a lead- ing lawyer of Rochester. He was subsequently sent to Congress, and was also appointed minister to Berlin. He removed to Albany, where he died a few years since.
MOSES CHAPIN was a prominent attorney practicing here in 1822. Ile was a most conscientious man, who early and carefully studied the moral and religions duties, and practiced them in all he did or said. He saw the beautiful and good, and followed it closely. He was a man of fine talenc, and officiated as first judge several terms.
ASHLEY SAMPSON, a native of the " Green Mountain State," began the prae- tice of law in this city in 1821. He was appointed to the office of first judge of the county, and officiated in that capacity several terms. He also represented Monroe in the legislature. Mr. Sampson was a man of fine abilities, and continued an active practitioner during life.
ELISHA B. STRONG, a member of the bar of Ontario county, was appointed the first judge of this county when it was set off from Ontario. The appointment of Mr. Streng to this position ercated universal dissatisfaction among the citizens of the new county, who felt that among their own attorneys might have been chosen a man as well, if not better, qualified to discharge the duties of this office.
TIMOTHY CHILDS, another member of the bar of Ontario county, was ap- pointed, with Mr. Strong, to serve Monroe as district attorney. This selection, also, was made by Ontario, totally ignoring the new county to have any choice in appointing officers for these responsible positions:
ADDISON GARDINER became a practicing attorney in this city in 1822, and was Rochester's first justice of the peace. He was not only a lawyer of fine talent, but a man of great popularity with all classes. He was district at- torney of the county, and was subsequently appointed circuit judge; and in 1844 was elected lieutenant-governor of New York on the ticket with Silas Wright, of honored memory. He was re-elected at the next gubernatorial elec- tion, but resigned in 1846, and was elevated to the bench of the court of appeals . of this State. Judge Gardiner long since retired from active business, and is passing his declining years at his pleasant home near this city, highly esteemed by the citizens of Rochester and the Empire State.
SAMUEL L. SELDEN was born in Lyme, Connecticut, October 12, 1800, and removed to this city in 1821, and commenced the study of his profession with the venerable Judge Gardiner. whose partner he afterwards became. Early in life he held the offices of justice of the peace, chancery clerk, and first judge of Monroe common pleas. In 1847 he was chosen a justice of the supreme court of this State, and subsequently was elected a judge of the court of appeals, which office he held until his resignation in 1862. Judge Seldon possessed the judicial faculty in the highest degree, and no member of the evert of appeals has sceured a more honorable reputation. He died September 20, 1876.
HENRY R. SELDEN came to Rochester in 1825, and studied his profession in the office of Gardiner & Sellen. It is a fact somewhat unusual that the same office should at the same time contain three of the future judges of the court of appeals, and those among the mwst eminent, -Addison Gardiner, Samuel L. Selden, and Henry R. Selden. If we may judge from their legal opinions, as published in the New York State Reports, three more able lawyers will rarely be found. Henry R. Selden was also the editor of the reports so favorably known as Selden's Reports. From the court of appeals he returned to the practice of' bis profession in Rochester, which he still pursues with all his youthful ardor.
HARVEY HUMPHREY was born in Litchfield county, Connecticut, in the year 1796. Came with his parents to East Bloomfield. Ontario county, New York, in 1798. Entered Hamilton college in IS17: gr.sluated there in 1820. Studied law with N. P. Randall, Esq., at Manhus, Oneida county, New York, in 1820 to 1822. Was tutor in Hamilton college in the years 1523 and 1824 Cathe to Rochester in the latter year. Studied law with Moses Chapin one year ; was admitted to the bar in 1825. He held the others of justice of the peace, rsannuer in chancery, and was one of the last board of trustees of the village of Rochester, who procured the passage of the first city charter, leaving their wueressors in
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.
office aldermen, with a mayor as their head. Ile held the office of county judge for one term. He is still daily at his office, after a practice nf more than fifty- one years, during the last twenty-five of which his son. George H. Humphrey, has been associated with him in business.
JAMES R. DOOLITTLE studied his profession with Isaac Hills, and was admitted to tho bar in 1836. He began his practice in Warsaw, Wyoming county, New York, and subsequently removed to Wisconsin, and represented that common- wealth in the United States senate.
JASPER W. GILBERT began the study of law in this city, where he was ad- mitted to the bar, and held the office of district attorney. Ile removed to Brook- lyn, atul commenced the practice of bis profession, and was afterwards elected to the ofice of justice of the supreme court, a position which he still occupies.
ERASMU'S P. SMITH commenced the study of law with the talented Sampson, and was admitted in this city, where he began practicing. He was appointed assistant secretary of State, and afterwards went as government ageut to China. He has recently returned to Rochester, where he now resides. Ile is a man of much Icarning, and the author of a valuable work on political ceonony.
ORLANDO HASTINOS will be remembered by many As a prominent attorney of this city, who came from Genesee. He represented the county in the legislature, and died in this city.
SELAH MATHEWS, a nephew of the venerable Vincent Mathews, was a lawyer of fair ability, who practiced and died in this city.
E. DARWIN SMITH studied his profession with E. Griffin, and commenced the practice in this city at an early day. He was elected to the office of justice of the supreme court, and retired from that position at the close of 1876, after a long and honorable career.
JOSEPH D. HESDANDS removed from Cooperstown, New York, to this city, where he atill resides, actively engaged in the practice of his profession. He is register in bankruptcy, and U. S. commissioner, U. S. master and examiner in chancery in both the district and circuit court.
JOSEPH A. EASTMAN, of the arm of Eastman & Vun Voorhis, commenced practice in this city in a very early day, and is still actively engaged in the duties of his professivo. He is an excellent lawyer, and was prominently identified with the early city government.
· Frederick Whittlesey, William W. Mumford, Charles MI. Lee, Jas. H. Gregory, Enos Pomeroy, and Fletcher MI. Haight were al-o prominent attorneys and honored citizens. Whittlesey and Mumford were partners in the law practice, and also at one time published the Monroe Republican. Other members of the profession residing here in 1838 were William S. Bishop, Patrick G. Buchan, Graham HI. Chapin, M. F. Delano, Isaac R. Elwood. Horace Gay, Simon H. Grant, San- furd M. Green, Robert Haight, Theodore B. Hamilton, E. S. Lee, Hiram Leonard, Samuel Miller, Wm. R. Montgomery, John C. Nash.
PRESENT MEMBERS OF THE ROCHESTER BAR.
Walter W. Adams, Allen Bros., J. S. Andrews, James L. Angle, Geo. Arm- strong, Theodore Bacon, C. S. Baker, W. H. Baker. II. L. Barker. A L. Barton, Bates & Pike, D. B. Beach, L. C. Benedict, O. MI. Benediet, Horace L. Bennett, J. B. Bennett, Benton & Dickinson, Omar Binney, W. II. Bowman, MI. H. Briggs, S. J. Budlong, W. R. Carpenter, Chumasero & Davison, Clark & Clark, J. C. Cochrane, Cogswell & Perkins, J. A. Colwell, Oscar Craig, P. M. Crandall, De L. Crittenden, W. B. Crittenden, II. R. Curtis, Danforth & Sheppard, Z. L. Da is, Davy & Luckey, C. F. Dean, Fred. Delann. J. W. Deuel, Geo. P. Draper, J. M. Dunning, F. L. Durand, Eastman & Van Voorhis, Wm. E. Edmonds, Al- fred Ely, Fanning & Williams, Farrar & Lysander, D. C. Feely, E. B. Fenner, E. B. Fiske, N. Foote, Jr., James S. Garlock, L. II. Gillette, L. J. Goddard, C. II. Gorhain, Wmo. Graebe, Harris & Cooke, Istic Ihills. F. A. Hitchcock, Hovry & White, P. B. Hulett, II. & G. Humphrey, T. B. Husband. J. D. Husbands, F. B. Ilutchiuson, D. C. Ilyde. G. F. Jackson, J. H. Jeffres, James A. Jordan, R. II. Lansing, F. A. Macomber, Martindale & Oliver, J. S. Mathews, Maxson & Simons, B. D. MeAlpine, MeDonald & Raines, C. I. MeDowill, J. A. MeGur- ray, P. Melntyre, M. G. Mckinney. E. A. MeMath, McNaughton & Olmstead, MrPhail & Junes, W. J. McPherson, T. C. Montgomery, J. S. Morgan, G. G. Manger, Chauncey Nash, M. Noyes, J. C. O'Brien, T. P. O'Kelly, J. C. O'Regan, John P. Palmer, Chauncey Perry, J. N. Pomeroy, C. J. Powers, J. Rau, G. W. Ranami, Hemy S. Redfield, G. E. Ripsom, S. R Robinson. John E. Roc, Row. Ivy & Johnson, Wm. II. St. Julin, Henry Sargent, Satterlee & Yeoman, R. II. Schonley, II. R. Selden, Jesse Shepherd, W'm. J. Sheridan, G. W. Siil.V. M. Smith, Jaweb Spahn, W. S. Staples, J. W. Stebbins, O. II. Stevens, J. A. Stull. J. Sul- livan, D. D. Sully, S. II. Terry, G. W. Thomas, Townsend & Sullivan, Cierre Trueulale, Turker & Buwen, J. C. Van Epps. John Van Voorbis, Quincey Van Vimirhis, J. P. Varnum, W. W. Webo, E. Webster, D. Wentworth, II. E. White,
R. E. White, F. A. Whittlescy, S. G. Wileux, Wile & Wile, A. J. Wilkin. ('. Williams. J. W. Wilson, Daniel Wood, L. M. Wooden, I. H. Woodward. W. H. Yerkes.
THE FINE ARTS.
A SKETCH OF THEIR RISE AND PROGRESS IN ROCHESTER, DASEO MAINLY ON PERSONAL REMINISCENCES .- RY DELLON MI. DEWEY.
As I came to the village of Rochester in the year 1833. my personal recollee- tions must date frot that time; and as the principal facts relating to the fine arta, previous to that date, have been given by Mr. Henry O'Reilly in his invalu- able work on the early history of Rochester and western New York, I take the liberty of quoting from his article on the subject the following
MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES RELATING TO THE FINE ARTS, ETC.
" First settlers and firet settlements ara characterized by works of necessity rather than of ornament Manifestations of taste and liberality in reference to the fine orts are, however, increasing in Rochester in a ratio commensorate with the prosperity of the citizens. The architecture of our churches and other public buildinga, as well as that of many of the private edifices, is generally creditable to the taste of the inhalatante, as well as to the akill of the buildere.
"On the death of De Witt Clinton, the Franklin Institute mined a subscription to procure a full-length portrait of the lamentel statesman. Catlin, m lins bins siner tendered Jumself conspicuous by his works among the fodiana, was the artist selectmil for the task. The punting, copied In .tu a likeness taken br the same Artist fur the corporation of New York, was sent to Rochester in charge of his brother, whoe- intim ly fare at a romantie spot La elsewhere mentioned in this volume, The sostitute having met with susne dithenltles, the jir.perty w disped of, and the portrait of Cliutun fell into The hands of Elisha Juhuson, the present muyor, who, we doubt not, would cheerfully do all that could be expected ressinalily from an individual in rendering the painting the property of aonse public institution. Might not . subscription be raised to secure for the public this interesting memorial uf departed greatness!
"The traveler who has ever sojournel at the Clinton House of Rochester while Mathies was landlord cannot have forgutten the portrait of the rel chieftain which arcested bis attentigo on entering the parior of that hotel. The striking physiognomy, the piercing eye, the peculiar ineduelliun on the breast, micht well bava excited luquiry. It was a capital likeness of Red Jacket, that noble Sarca winne wisdom, eloquence, and patriutimin are worthy of higher funte than will probably crown the champion of a decaylog race.
" Mr. Mathies was an eccentric genius, who occasionally serzed the palette, and devoted himself for some weeks or muothe to as pursuit iu which some such pieces as this bear evidence of his ability.
NOTE -This portrait was nowlowend of Wie wilner, in feld, by the late Ilamatie G. Warner.
" The portrait of Vincent Mathews, painted by request of the junior nietubers of the R chester bar. was executed by Daniel Steele, formerly of this city. It hang+ io the court house. The miniature portrait+ uf General Mathewa aod Colonel Rochester, drawn for engtwings to be placed in the Sketches of Both-ster, wera piloted hy V. Pasto Shaver, who has just returned to the city, ufer practicing during the wint Fin National Academy, al New York. The portrait of General Mithews was drawn from life ; that of Colonel Rochester" Imm a painting mule by ffarding a few years before Colonel R i death. A portrait of Jesse Enwiey was drawn by G. S. Gilbert, of Roche-ter, for presentation Ly Mir. Hawley to the New York His torical Society, to be preserved in coooectivo with his early writings on the policy of the Enie canal.
" Probably the earliest artist who attempted to settle on the brinks of the Genesee was a ton of the cele- heated Benjamin West, president uf the British Royal Academy, of whom Dunlap related a few particulara in his " History of the Arts of Design': ' In 1910, Raphael Weat, soo of Benj .nun West, Funted Americi to improve wild lamis, and, although he did aut exert lus talents at a painter for the public, or exhibit any pic- turet during his stay, his Liste had influence on the arts of the country,-fur the leav. o cannot be mingled with the lump and produce no effect,-and the drawings ha brought with him, and thuse he executed during his residence at Big Tree i between Geneseo and Moscow), and communicated or presented to his friends, must be considered as swelling the title of western art by a cupins though transteht shower. Disappointed, dis- couraged, and homesick, Raphael glully bruke from the Big Tree prison to return to the pareutal home so Newman street. On bis way he vint. d me in New York. His anger was kindled az inst Wul-worth, whe, Likte & true American, saw in the wilderness the piruilise which was to grow ifp and bluom there, but which was lovisible to the Loodun painter, and, if possible, still muore so to his London wife. ~ Would you believe it, Dunlap? As I sat drawing by a lower wiuduw, up Diarcbed a bear, an if to take a lessuq."."
"FALLS OF THE GENESEE-FATE OF CATLIN.
" The !! I-fated cerere of Catlin should not be left unnoticed lo connection with the Falls of the Genesee at Rochester, particularly as it wos milmiration of those cataracts which occasioned lus ant mely fate. He was literally a martyr to his love of nature, and expired amid a scene which huis perceptions of the ' sublime and beautiful' caused him to appreciate with an enthusiasm akin to that which has since weured well-d-servel celebrity for his brother, the unrivaled picturer of the character and appearance of the red man of the urst." He punted the portrait of De Witt Chotou before starting on his memorable seven years' tour among the Indiana,
"The painting was brought to Rochester by the hether of whose fate we now sprak, A beautiful mming tempted yunng tatlın to quoter along the banks of the river to the lower falls. The young artist Jederndel the precipitous banks for the purpose of anuring the er enery from the margin of the river belus the fills. The view of the cataract, and the lugh banks Intween which the river hus worn its pladsen, is beautiful in- deel, After admiring the scenes presented by & me chi ves in the river links, the young artist retgrand el ve to the fall. Here he went Into the river ty Inthe, or perhajw to get A view of the cataract fruns the centre of the river on the west Bule. But a short abril cry of arvny woon warned a f-herman that the swimnier w 24 In peril, and the enthusiastic artiat aank &r tise no dioro with life! The suspicions of fout play entert smed agujust the fisherman -- the only spectator of the tragedy-were dlispelled promptly by the consequent inves- tigation ; and the belief prevailed that death resulted trum crainp."
BRIEF SKETCHES OF THE PAINTERS.
The first resident artist in Rochester, so far as I am able to learn, was PV'L IIINDS, who practiced the art of portrait and miniature painting about the year 1820. Hlow long he remained here, and what was the character of his work. I have not been able to ascertain.
In the year 1823, HORACE HARDING throther of the celebrated painter by that name) practiced the art of portrait-painting here. He was recognized as an artist of fair ability. Among his heads was one of the late Isase Muere.
In the year 1825, GEORGE ARNOLD male has residence here, and devoted him- self in part to ornamental and figure painting. He produced many figur-pierrs which evinced tine talent. Among the best in that line, I remember well the
. A copy of this portrait appears urer bis hiography in th .. work.
140
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.
painting for the banner of the " Rochester City Caders," afterwards the " Roches- ter Light Guards." This was painted about the year 1840, and attracted nniver- sal admiration for its artistic heanty. It was painted for the ladies of the city, and presented to the company by them with unusual public ceremonies. Mr. Arnold still resides here, having attained an enviable reputation in his profession as well as a competency of this world's goods, and enjoying the respect and confidence of all who know him.
Mr. J. L. D. MATHIES, of whom Mr. O'Reilly speaks, came here about the Fear 1825 to 1828, accompanied, as 1 am informed, by his nephew,-the now famous artist WILLIAM PAGE, of New York .- both of whom were portrait- painters. They opened a studio and an art gallery consisting of their own paint- ings. Their plan seems to have been to accumulate a number of paintings for the art gallery, which would prove of sufficient interest to attract visitors. Mr. Page painted some historical pieces,-one, the " Children of Israel crossing the Red Sea;" also, the head of an "Old Roman in Chains." They did not secure patronage sufficient at that early day to warrant the enterprise of the gallery, and gave up the idea. Mr. Page remained here ahout one year and then returned to New York, where he had formerly resuled. My Page has long been recognized as one of the greatest American painters. Mr. Tuckereran, in his work cutitled " Book of the Artists," says of him, " Of all American painters, William Page is the most originally experimental. He bas studied his art in theory as well as practice ; he has idealized in a wide range of speculations as regards the processes, the methods, and the principles of adapting them."
Mr. Mathies, having practiced painting more as an amateur than an artist, soon after laid aside bis pencil and casel and embarked in a patent-right business, which proved more successful in a pecuniary way. He was proprietor for some years of the " Arcade Restaurant ;" also landlord of the Clinton Hotel when he died, about the year 1834.
About the year 1827, a Mr. TUTHILL erected his easel here as a portrait- painter, and excented several paintings. Among them were portraits of the late Dr. Matthew Brown and his wife; also, the father and mether of the late William Atkinson. It was in this year that DANIEL STEELE. a portrait-painter of no mean ability, came here. Mr. Steele was a mao of very pleasing address, and soon placed his pictures in the parlors of a large number of our best families. He was regarded as a five painter. Among his heads, one now in the possession of Dr. B. F. Gilkeson, the portrait of Mrs. Gilkeson's father, may be recognized as a fair specimen of his work. I name as among his best pictures one of Colonel Ilorace Gay; also one of General Vincent Mathews, which is now hanging over the judges' beneli in the court-house. Mr. Siecle was first known in western New York while exhibiting a large Scriptural painting called the " Rai-ing of Lazarus," which he had executed at Auburn, I believe. While here he never attempted anything but portraits, with the exception of a Venus, which for many years had a home in one of our flouring mills, and which never greatly increased the fame of the artist. Mr. Steele remained here about seven years.
PHILIP Boss came to Rochester about the year 1830, from the town of Clark- son, in this county, where he had followed the business of cabinet-making, and where he had unfortunately lost his shop and goods by fire. Possessing some talent for portrait-painting as an amateur, he began the practice of his art here, and produced quite a number of very satisfactory portraits. He was satisfied with small remuneration for his work. and no doubt this induced a liberal patron- age. Ile succeeded very well in his drawings, but evinced very little artistic skill with the use of color or in the effects of light and shadow. In fact, many of his pictures were little more than that drawings in color. A picture now in the possession of Samuel B. Dewey, of this city, may be regarded as a fair sprei- men of his work. Mr. Buss was a genial, kind-hearted gentleman, and will be well remembered by eur old citizens. Ile removed to the State of Indiana with his family about the year 1850.
GROVE S. GILBERT graduated with honnr at the Middlebury Academy. nhout the year 1825. While there, his genius manifested itself in drawing very life- like pen and pencil sketches of his schoolmates. His first essays in portraiture were made in the village of Le Roy, from whence be removed to Niagara, Canada, where he spent one winter in teaching school. He removed to this city in the year 18334. when he was twenty-nine years of age. le at once opened a studio, and erected his easel as a portrait-painter. Without the advantage of foreign travel, or even a knowledge of the works of the best masters, and having seen but few examples worthy of study, he seems to have invented his own methods. and by intuitive genius to have worked out a system of his own, producing results which have challenged the admiration of the best masters in the coun- try. As an evidence of this, I quote a remark of one of the recognized great masters of New York, on viewing a portent hy Mr. Gilbert. So struck was he with Gilbert's genius in laying on the dead coloring of his portraits, that be remarked, " lle would give all he ever knew for the ability to do it in' the- saune
manner." Mr. Gilbert was soon recognized as a master in his profession, and has had the honor of painting heads of nearly all of our leading citizens during the last half-century. I remember visiting his studio as early as the year 1835, when I sat for a portrait by the late Colonel Phineas Stanton, of Le Roy, who had procured the consent of Mr. Gilbert to study in his studie. Mr. Gilbert always declined to instruct pupils, giving as a reason that he had no theory or method to give them. ". He did not know how he produced effect himself, hence he could not communicate it to others;" out he had no objection to students watching him work, and obtaining what knowledge of the art they could in that way. Thua Mr. Stanton received from Gilbert his first ideas of portrait-painting.
Among Mr. Gilbert's early heads were those of Rev. Dr. Wisner, of the Brick church, the Rev. Dr. Whitehouse, of St. Luke's church, and the Hon. Levi A. Ward, which portrait Mr. Gilbert regards as one of his best pictures. It is now hanging in. the common council chamber of our city, where also may be seen a number of Mr. Gilbert's heads. One of' his best pictures. however, was that of Dr. Matthew Brown. This picture was painted nearly thirty years age. Mr. Gilbert was solicited to send a head about that time to the Academy of Design, ic New York, for one of its annual exhibitions, and this bead was chosen by him, and sent for that purpose. This work so excited the admiration of the artists that Mr. Elliott, the distinguished portrait-painter, caused Mr. Gilbert's came to be offered to the association as eligible to honorary membership to that institution. Mr. Gilbert was unanimously elected-a position to which his works had so emincatly entitled him. Mr. Gilbert has always been on earnest student and a most conscientious worker. Constantly striving to excel, he has, like most other true geniuses in art, experimented successfully in the various methods of handling, until his werks, at the present time, exhibit three distinct "modes" or "manners." His early work, conscientiously drawn with evident care fer exact truthfulness in measurement, seemed to lack that ideality which characterizes his middle hand- ling. while for general effect they are admirable specimens as relate to other elements io art. His middie hamiting produced portraits of great strength and power, characterized by the most exquisite effects in coloring I have ever seen, showing evidently that, like Rubens, his genius is found in his extraordinary talent for color. His last and most highly artistic handling exhibit all of his powers combined in their fullest development. A freer drawing, greater ideality, masterly conception, and management of color, and, above all, that breadth in chiaroscuro so essential to a masterly production, combine to place him among the leading portrait-painters of the country. Mr. Gilbert rarely fails in producing a likeness; most of his pictures are admirable in that respect, which may be attrib- uted to a happy faculty of drawing out the character, emotions, and feelings of his sitters by continuous conversation while at his work. His works have the marks of true genius, and his future historian, by studying them, will find no difficulty io establishing his true position as an artist. It may safely be said that in his life, and in the practice of his profession, he has greatly elevated the standard of art in western New York.
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