USA > New York > Monroe County > Rochester > History of Rochester and Monroe county, New York, from the earliest historic times to the beginning of 1907, Vol. II > Part 12
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citizen of western New York in his day. His son, Riley A. Spencer, was also a farmer and followed various other occupations as well.
Nelson E. Spencer was reared under the paren- tal roof and after acquiring a public-school educa- tion he became a student in the Wilmington Con- ference Academy at Dover, Delaware. Later he matriculated in the University of Rochester and was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy in the class of 1893. He became a member of the Alpha Delta Phi and also of the Phi Beta Kappa, two college fraternities. He was admitted to the bar on the 26th of December, 1895, and began practice the same day, since which time he has been an active member of the legal frater- nity at this place. He engages in the general practice of law and his broad understanding of the principles of civil and common law well qual- ify him for the conduct of the litigated interests entrusted to his care.
On the 1st of December, 1897, Mr. Spencer was married to Miss Helen Louise Clark, of Rochester, and they have had three children, Clark Palmer, Howard Clark and Elwood Clark. In the city where they reside they have gained a wide and fa- vorable acquaintance and are much esteemed by many friends.
REV. JACOB F. STAUB.
Rev. Jacob F. Staub, a representative of the Catholic priesthood in Rochester, his native city, was born July 8, 1865. He was educated in a parochial school of which he is now rector. His preparatory course was pursued at St. Andrews Seminary, while later he studied in the American College at Rome. Subsequently he pursued his theological course at the University of Innsbruck, at Innsbruck, Austria, and was there ordained to the priesthood on the 30th of July, 1889.
When his preliminary study and preparation was over Rev. Staub returned to Rochester and for five years was assistant in the parish in which he was reared. Subsequently he was assigned to the duties of the pastorate of the churches at Greece and Coldwater, where he labored for seven years, and in 1901 he was transferred to Roches- ter, serving as assistant in a church until 1902, when he was given charge of the parish over which he has since presided. Under his guidance the work of the church has been carried forward along rapid but healthful lines. Since Rev. Staub took charge a new parochial hall has been built to accommodate eight hundred people and is one of the finest of the kind in western New York. It was erected at a cost of seventy thousand dollars, and the architectural design of the building and
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the interior arrangements and decorations are largely the idea of Father Staub. A modern heat- ing, lighting and power plant has been installed. and every modern convenience has been added. The lighting of the church and hall are most ar- tistic, the lights being arranged so that every cor- ner and the entire hall are brilliantly illuminated and the effect is most artistic and pleasing. The school has thirteen teachers of the Order of Notre Dame, and there are eight hundred and six pupils. The different societies of the church are in good working condition and the church under the guid- ance of Rev. Staub is proving a moving influence in the community.
CHARLES H. WHITE.
Charles H. White, a man who has made his own way through life, and who now occupies an im- portant position as huuber salesman for the Mer- chants' Despatch Transportation Company, was born in Brighton, Monroe county. New York, De- cember 6, 1863, being a son of John and Sophia White, who reared a family of six children : Rika, the wife of August Lank, of Rochester; Minnie, the wife of Charles Wagner, of the same city; Mary, the wife of John Wood, and Elizabeth, the widow of Thomas Woods, both of Rochester ; John, and the subject of this sketch, who are residents of Fairport. The father of this family came from Germany, the country which has furnished Amer- ica many sturdy citizens. It was in his native land that he married and that his daughter Rika was born. It was soon after her birth that Mr. White sought in the new world larger opportuni- ties and so emigrated with his family to our shores, locating in Penfield township, Monroe county, New York, where he engaged in garden- ing. It was upon this small farm that he was able to earn a living for himself and his family, and here he remained for some ten years before his death, when he came to the village of Penfield, where he passed away in November, 1899, at the age of sixty-seven years. He was a life-long re- publican and an active member of the Lutheran church.
The subject of this sketch received his early edu- cation in the public schools and as early as his ninth year had completed a business course in a Rochester night school. This latter fact will give our readers some idea of the young man's desire to help himself and to make the best of his time and his opportunities. He secured employment on several neighboring farms and continued to work and study in this way up to his sixteenth vear. At this time he accepted a position on the New York Central Railroad as call boy in the
freight yards. So efficiently did he serve in this capacity that three years later he was put on the road as brakeman, a position he held for two years, but in 1884 he began his present career with the Merchants' Despatch Transportation Com- pany, beginning as an ordinary laborer. From that time he served as carpenter, night watchman, painter, stockkeeper, and in 1899 he was appointed to his present position. When an ambitious lad is ready to begin at the bottom of a business and make his way through its various stages until he gets what he wants, he is eventually in a substan- tial position, for his foundation is sure. Too often a young man wants to begin at the top round of the ladder without building a foundation for his position. The small boy of today would do well to heed the lesson of Mr. White's career.
In 1889 he was married to Miss Emma Gibbs, of Rochester, a daughter of Robert Gibbs, now de- ceased, and they became the parents of four chil- dren, three of whom are now living: Carrie, Laura and Earl.
To the men and measures of the republican party Mr. White has always given his loyal sup- port. Fraternally he is a member of East Roches- ter tent of the Maccabees and Court Flower City of the Independent Order of Foresters and to the Mutual lodge. In religion he is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
HON. ALFRED ELY.
Hon. Alfred Ely, deceased, of Rochester, was one of the distinguished attorneys of western New York and the varied interests of citizenship, of civic life and intellectual and moral development all claimed his attention and received his co-op- eration. He figured prominently in political cir- cles as well and twice represented his district in congress. His career was one of activity and use- fulness and, gifted by nature with strong intel- lectual powers, he used his talents to further high aims and lofty purposes and left the impress of his individuality for good upon the city and state in which he made his home. He came to Roches- ter in 1836, a young man of twenty-one years, and was thereafter a resident of the city until his life's labors were ended in death.
Mr. Ely was born in Lyme, Connecticut, Febru- ary 15, 1815, his parents being Charles and Eliza- beth Ely, who throughout their entire lives were residents of the Charter Oak state, living most of the time at Ely's Ferry on the Connecticut river. Both died, however, at Lyme.
Alfred Ely acquired a public-school education in Essex county, Connecticut, and in Lyme, fol- lowed by a course of study in Bacon Academy at
CHARLES H. WHITE.
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
Colchester, New London county, Connecticut, where he had for a classmate the late Chief Jus- tice Morrison R. Waite, of the United States su- preme bench. A liberal literary education served as an excellent foundation upon which to rear the superstructure of professional learning and in 1836 he came to Rochester, where he began prep- aration for the bar as a law student in the office of Smith & Rochester, who were among the most eminent attorneys of the state. In his student days Mr. Ely was patient and persevering and mastered the principles of his profession with great care. He was admitted to the bar in 1841 and entered at once upon the practice of his chosen calling. No dreary novitiate awaited him, for in a comparatively short time he had built up a large practice and his forensic powers were recog- nized bv the profession and the general public. He first had an office on Main street opposite the Powers block and afterward removed to the El- wood block. He became attorney for the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad, also the Buffalo & Rochester Railroad and was specially qualified for these positions by reason of his inti- mate and accurate knowledge of railroad law. He was also attorney for many extensive firms doing business in the city. He was particularly strong as a counselor, displayed great familiarity with the rules of practice, prepared his cases with great thoroughness and care, was accurate in his mas- terv of all the points in a case and his pleadings showed oratorical power and an unquestioned logic in his deductions.
Mr. Ely had not long been a resident of Roches- ter until the weight of his influence was felt in public affairs and it was a generally conceded fact that he was found on the right side of every ques- tion. He stood firm in support of his honest con- victious in political circles as well as in other walks of life, and in 1858 he was called upon to represent his district in the thirty-sixth congress. He received endorsement of his course during the legislative sessions of that body by re-election in 1860 and he thus served during a very momentous period in the history of the county. At the time of the Civil war he stood loyally by the Union, aided in the raising of troops and felt the deepest interest in the northern soldiers and the success of the Union cause. At the first battle of Bull Run he was present to aid in the Union cause and. being taken prisoner, was incarcerated for nearly six months in Libby prison, during which time he was subjected to severe cruelty. While there he was indefatigable in his efforts to alle- viate the sufferings of his fellow prisoners. He came to know just what southern prison life meant and to realize as did few of the civilians in the north what were the experiences and hardships of the soldier at the front. He did a most valuable work in behalf of the Union troops as opportunity
offered and in an indirect way through the publica- tion of his well known book, "Journal of Alfred Ely, a Prisoner of War in Richmond." This vol- ume was written in his usual pleasing style and had a very large sale. It was an influence in the mitigation of the harshness with which prisoners of war were treated, for it brought to the country a knowledge of the methods which were practiced by the keepers of those southern prison pens. In 1862 Mr. Ely returned to Rochester and entered again upon the active practice of law, in which he continued until the latter part of his life.
In 1840 was celebrated the marriage of Alfred Ely and Miss Caroline L. Field, a danghter of Jo- seph and Lydia (Glover) Field, natives of Taun- ton, Massachusetts, and of Dorchester, that state, respectively. Mr. Field was a very early settler of Rochester and became a prominent and wealthy citizen. He began business here as a miller but soon became interested in railroads. He was a director and large stockholder of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad and was an active factor in the construction of that line be- tween Rochester and Syracuse and also between Rochester and Buffalo. He became a director and one of the principal stockholders in the Flower City Bank, with which he was thus identified from its organization until his death. He was likewise connected with many other business interests which proved strong and potent elements in the development and growth of the city. His worth and prominence were indicated by his fellow citi- zens in their choice of Mr. Field for the office of mayor of Rochester on two different occasions. So popular and honored was he in the city that at the time of his second election he was made the candidate of both parties. Faultless in honor, fearless in conduct and stainless in reputation, his memory remains as an example and inspiration to all that knew anght of him. Both he and his wife passed away in Rochester and the city mourned the loss of one of its most distinguished, able and devoted men.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ely were born four children but all are now deceased. Joseph F. Ely, the eld- est, was a graduate of law and died in New York city when a young man. Charles died in infancy. Caroline Lydia became the wife of Albert Stein- barger and died soon after her marriage. Eliza- beth died in childhood.
The death of the husband and father occurred on the 18th of May, 1892, and his remains were interred in the beautiful Ely mausoleum in Mount Hope cemetery at Rochester. He had continued in the practice of law until within a short time of his death. His life was indeed a busy one, as he was always occupied with some interest or an- other relating to his professional career or to the city's welfare. He largely had a statesman's grasp of affairs concerning political interests, for
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
he was a deep student of the issues of the day, the sources from which they sprang and the probable outcome. His investigation led him to give earn- est support to the principles of the republican party as most conducive to good government. He was equally active and effective in church work, holding membership in St. Luke's church. of which he was long a vestryman and to which his wife also belongs. The Elv home at No. 126 Plymouth avenue is one of the most attractive in the city. Here Mr. Ely and his wife resided for over fifty years and Mrs. Ely yet remains there. She has a number of fine paintings of her honored husband. His library was one of the most exten- sive and valuable in western New York. He pos- sessed marked literary taste and with the master minds of all ages was largely familiar through his wide reading and research. He possessed excel- lent oratorical gifts and was frequently called upon to address public gatherings, while as a writer he was equally fluent and forceful. His life record is made up of good deeds, of a kindly spirit, of professional activity and honor. He held friendship inviolable, but while he was known as a prominent citizen and loval friend his best traits of character were reserved for his own home and fireside.
JOHN S. BINGEMAN.
John S. Bingeman, senior partner of the firm of Bingeman & Baxter, jobbers and importers of all kinds of buttons at Rochester, was born in Breslau, near Berlin, Ontario, Canada, where he acquired his education and attained man's estate. It was there he learned the button trade and thus had practical experience in the business when in 1887 he crossed the border into the United States and became a resident of Rochester. He made the removal in company with M. B. Shantz, who had married a cousin of our subject, and who had also been engaged in button manufacturing in On- tario. On coming to Rochester they organized the M. B. Shantz & Company button manufactory in 1887, becoming the pioneers in this line of busi- ness here. Mr. Bingeman remained a member of the firm until 1891, when he withdrew and became head salesman for the German-American Button Company, which was organized by General Noyes. He acted in that capacity until 1894, when he or- ganized the firm of Bingeman & Baxter, his part- ner being Major R. Baxter, who for some years had been a salesman with the M. B. Shantz Com- pany. From the beginning the new enterprise prospered, the firm now having a large jobbing
house, handling all kinds of business and conduct- ing one of the most extensive importing businesses in their line in this part of the country.
In April, 1891, Mr. Bingeman was married in Rochester to Miss Frances L. Davidson, of Michi- gan, and they have two children, Russell and Alice Rose, aged respectively fourteen and five years. Mr. Bingeman is a member of the Central Presby- terian church of Rochester and one of its trustees. As the architect of his own fortune he has build- ed wisely and well and is now in control of an im- portant commercial concern returning to the part- ners a very gratifying annual income.
WILLIAM H. SEYMOUR.
What a remarkable record was that of William H. Seymour! His life span covered one hundred and one years and to a wonderful degree he re- tained his mental and physical faculties. On the occasion of the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of his birth his mind seemed as alert and as active as it had in former years, and his memory excited the surprise and admiration of those present when, without a moment's hesita- tion, he replied to a question concerning a Shake- spearian quotation which others present could not give. The years of his earthly pilgrimage covered a most important epoch in the world's progress and he was not only a witness of the wonderful things accomplished in the business world, revolu- tionizing methods of living, but was also an active participant in the work which made the history of the nineteenth century notable. He became a resi- dent of Brockport in 1823, and for eighty years maintained his home there, a fact which renders it imperative that mention be made of him in this volume.
Mr. Seymour was born in Litchfield, Connecti- cut, on the 15th of July, 1802, and was a repre- sentative of the descendants of Richard Seymour in the fifth generation. That the family was one of the earliest in the colonial settlement of Amer- ica is indicated by the fact that the name of Richard Seymour appears on the town records of Hartford, Connecticut, in 1639. It is also in- scribed on a monument erected to the memory of the first settlers of Hartford in the churchyard of the old Center Congregational church, now hid- den behind modern business blocks, while the ground is kept under lock and key. Speaking of his life history, in 1898, when ninety-six years of age, Mr. Seymour said that the combined ages of himself and his four direct American ancestors in the paternal line were four hundred and twenty years, an average of eighty-four years each, while on the maternal side the longevity was equally re-
JOHN S. BINGEMAN.
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
markable. His father, Samuel Seymour, and his uncle, Moses Seymour, were valiant soldiers of the Revolutionary war and were afterward known as captain and major respectively. When American independence was achieved they engaged in busi- ness together in the manufacture of hats in Litch- field. Moses S. Seymour was the father of Hon. Henry Seymour, canal commissioner of New York during the construction of the Erie canal, and his son, Horatio Seymour, was afterward governor of New York. Others of the family left the impress of their individuality upon business interests and public life.
William H. Seymour spent his early youth in Litchfield and always felt the warmest attachment for the place of his birth and was ever interested in hearing about the friends of the early days. He visited there at intervals, paying his last visit in 1880. Business opportunities brought him to New York, his elder brother, James, having been for some time in the employ of their cousin, Henry Seymour, the canal commissioner at Pompey, New York, as a clerk, and eventually followed the line of emigration to western New York and estab- lished a general store at Murray Four Corners, aft- erward Clarkson, in Genesee county, with his cousin, Henry Seymour, as a silent partner. When the business had been established there William H. Seymour joined his brother in 1818, when about sixteen years of age, to act as clerk, and afterward became a partner in the store. On the completion of the Erie canal to Brockport they removed their business to that place in 1823. James Seymour purchased the land now lying east of Main street, while that on the west side was owned by Hiel Brockway, for whom the town was named. James Seymour became not only well known in commercial circles but also attained considerable political prominence and was the first sheriff of Monroe county, following which he removed to Rochester, the county seat, and not long after his term of office expired he became cashier of the Bank of Rochester and subsequently its president.
William H. Seymour, however, continued at Brockport as proprietor of the mercantile store which they had established in 1823 and also ex- tended the scope of his activities to the purchase and shipment of grain. He likewise served as postmaster under President Andrew Jackson, hav- ing the office in his store. During a part of this time Joseph Ganson and subsequently Hollister Lathrop were associated with him in business. Sometime prior to 1844 D. S. Morgan was ad- mitted to a partnership and a year or so later Mr. Morgan, Mr. Seymour and the latter's brother-in- law, Thomas Roby, established a foundry business for the manufacture of stoves and other castings. This was the initial step into a line of business which later became one of world wide importance.
Mr. Roby died in 1847 while a member of the firm, the partnership, however, being continued by Mr. Seymour and Mr. Morgan. It was after the establishment of the foundry that Mr. Seymour became interested in the manufacture of reapers. Several reaping machines had been invented in Great Britain during the early part of the nine- teenth century but none went into practical opera- tion except the one produced by Rev. Patrick Bell in Scotland in 1826, of which, however, only two or three were made. Early in the '30s Husey and McCormick brought out their machines and developed them sufficiently to do practical work in the field. A few of each were made and sold but no regular manufacture of either had been established until 1846, when Seymour, Morgan & Company of Brockport built the first hundred machines for Cyrus H. McCormick. Shortly prior to this time Mr. Seymour had been told that when Mr. McCormick was in Washington getting a patent on the seat on his machine, he was informed by D. Burroughs that his brother-in-law, Mr.Back- us, of Backus, Fitch & Company, of Brockport, would most likely manufacture his reaper for him. In the preceding fall, he also learned Mr. McCor- mick had brought his reaper to Backus, Fitch & Company and had it tried in cutting wheat. It had no seat for the raker, who walked behind and raked off the sheaf. In the succeeding winter Mr. McCormick brought his pattern for castings to Backus, Fitch & Company, but as they could only make a small number he called on Seymour, Mor- gan & Company, then engaged in the manufacture of stoves and they agreed to make for the har- vest of 1846, one hundred of these reapers, which had a seat for the raker. Mr. Jenner made the pattern for the castings, Mr. McCormick directing in the construction of his first machine, as he brought no machine to the firm to serve as a pattern. During the succeeding year they made two hundred reapers for Mr. McCormick but feel- ing that they could not agree to pay his patent fee of thirty dollars on each machine they sub- sequently began the manufacture of a reaper brought out by George F. Barnett, which they believed did not infringe on Mr. McCormick's patent. They built three hundred that year and were sued by Mr. McCormick, so abandoning that invention, they began to manufacture reapers af- ter plans perfected by Mr. Seymour, the new machine being known as the New Yorker. Mr. Seymour obtained a patent on this and made five hundred of the machines when he was restrained by an injunction granted by Judge Nelson of the United States court to Mr. McCormick, who bit- terly contested the right of any other manufactur- er to place reapers upon the market. However, to the firm of Seymour. Morgan & Company be- longs the credit of being the first regular manu- facturers of reapers in the country. In February,
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1857, Mr. Seymour disposed of his interests in his patents on his reaper, yet reserving his rights so far as they might be necessary in the manu- facture of self-raking reapers, to D. S. Morgan for his interest in a farm in Hamlin. He con- tinued at the head of the iron foundry business, however, until 1875, when he withdrew from the firm and became interested in the manufacture of lumber and its sale in connection with his son Henry. The new enterprise prospered and he thus continued in business until 1882, when he re- tired to private life, enjoying a well earned rest throughout his remaining days.
Mr. Seymour was married in 1833 to Miss Pix- ley, of Columbia county, New York. Unto them were born five children, of whom only three grew to maturity : Hon. Henry W. Seymour, who died in Washington, D. C., leaving a wife and one daughter; Helen, now Mrs. W. B. Sylvester; and James H., who is unmarried and resides at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.
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