History of Rochester and Monroe county, New York, from the earliest historic times to the beginning of 1907, Vol. II, Part 13

Author: Peck, William F. (William Farley), b. 1840
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: New York ; Chicago : The Pioneer Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 718


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 13


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After his retirement from business Mr. Sey- mour lived quietly in Brockport, taking occasional journeys with one of his children until 1895. When eighty-one years of age he went abroad with his children, spending five months in travel in Great Britain, Germany, Italy and France. When eighty-six years of age he visited England again with a daughter and son-in-law, and in 1893 he spent the summer at the World's Columbian Ex- position in Chicago. For many years he found pleasure and recreation in billiards and whist, at- taining much skill in both, while his leisure was devoted to reading, which covered a wide range. His memory concerning the works of his favorite authors was remarkable, his quotations culled from various sources often exciting the surprise of those with whom he was conversing. In 1900 he was elected an honorary member of the Nation- al Association of Agricultural Implement & Vehi- cle Manufacturers in recognition of his import- ance as a factor in establishing one of the coun- try's greatest industries.


In retrospection he could go back to the time when the farm implements were such as had been in use for hundreds of years-the wooden plow, the brush drag, or the Roman harrow, with wood- en teeth; the hoe for planting and cultivating : the scythe and hand rake for harvesting hay; the hand sickle for cutting grain; and the flail for threshing. He lived to see a complete revolution in the methods of farming with the invention and introduction of machinery and he was ever an in- terested witness of the changes that occurred in other departments of life, indicating progress and improvement. It hardly seemed possible that in 1903 there yet lived a man who was living when George III was vet on the throne of England. He was ten years of age when the second war with Great Britain was begun and a youth of thir-


teen at the time of the battle of Waterloo, and he well remembered incidents connected with both. One of the most notable events in his life his- tory was the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of his birth. It was made a gala day in Brockport. The entire village united in an ex- pression of good will and honor to him. On that day the church bells pealed out a greeting in strokes of ten from each tower, thus registering the hundred years. Neighbors and friends deco- rated their homes for the occasion, while the flag was unfurled on the town hall in his honor. From far and near came friends to express their con- gratulations and delight that he had been spared to the venerable old age, including a delegation from his natal town, Litchfield. Many choice gifts were bestowed upon him, including a century plant, while an appropriate centerpiece for the table was composed of one hundred sweet wil- liams, bordered with rosemary "for remembrance." One hundred years of Christian living had made him a most honored man. At the reception held in the afternoon there gathered people from every walk of life, for his friends were numbered among the young and old, the rich and poor. One of his old workmen said on that occasion, "I worked for you steady, sir, for forty years and I always got my pay," while a similar expression came from a friend and neighbor: "In all the years Mr. Sey- mour has lived here no one ever could say a word against him. His name stood for absolute integ- rity." He lived to pass another milestone on life's journey and on the 6th of October, 1903, was called to the home beyond.


SIMEON G. CURTICE.


The man who recognizes opportunity and then bends every energy toward the accomplish- ment of his purpose wins success. There is no secret method by which prosperity is attained. Its basis is always effort-unrelaxing effort-a statement which finds verification in the life rec- ords of Simeon G. Curtice and thousands of other successful men. In the death of Mr. Curtice on the 7th of February, 1905, Rochester mourned the loss of one whom it had come to respect and honor as a most able business man and worthy citizen. His name was a familiar one in trade circles, not only in this country but in foreign lands as well, and the extensive business which he and his business associates developed contributed in substantial measure to Rochester's industrial and financial activity.


Mr. Curtice was born in Webster, New York, August 13, 1839, but spent the greater part of Lis life in Rochester. He was a son of Mark and


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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.


Elmina (Goodnow) Curtice, and was thus a di- rect descendant from Henry Curtice, who was one of the original grantees of the town of Sudbury, Massachusetts, in 1638; and from Edmund Good- now, who came to America in the ship Confidence in 1638. These facts are fully set forth in the genealogy of the Curtice family given in the sketch of Edgar N. Curtice.


Simeon G. Curtice attended the common and advanced schools of Webster, New York. After finishing his school life in Webster he became a clerk in the general store of William Corning, an old time merchant of Webster, with whom he remained for three years. He then removed to Rochester and entered the Collegiate Institute un- der Professor Benedict. In 1862 he concluded his studies and then established himself in the grocery business in Rochester in the old flat iron building at Main, North and Franklin streets. In 1865 he was joined by his younger brother, Edgar, and they adopted the firm name of Curtice Brothers. Thus began a business as- sociation which continued until his death. It was in a room above their store that they com- menced the canning of fruit in a small way, ex- perimenting with the preserving of various fruits. In the autumn of 1868 they sold their grocery business, and purchased the property at the corner of Water and Mortimer streets and devoted them- selves entirely to the canning and preserving of fruits and vegetables. The rapidity with which their products found favor on the market led to the demand for increased space, causing them to purchase land and build on North Water street between Andrews and River streets. In 1880 the demand for still further increased space led them to buy the land and erect the buildings which the company now occupies. From time to time these new buildings have been enlarged in order to meet the constantly increasing demand for their pro- ducts. In 1887 the business was first incorporated as the Curtice Brothers Company, with a capital- ization of two hundred thousand dollars; Simeon G. Curtice was chosen president; Edgar N. Cur- tice, vice president and treasurer ; and Robert A. Badger, secretary. In 1901 the business was re- incorporated under the same corporate name with the same officers, but with a capitalization of one million five hundred thousand dollars, show- ing thus an increase of more than sevenfold in fourteen years. In the course of these years the enterprise to which Simeon G. Curtice had devoted his life had developed into one of the greatest in- dustries of its kind in the world and there is prob- ably not a hamlet or village in the entire country in which the name of Curtice Brothers is not known and recognized as a guarantee for high standards. In connection with his manufacturing interests Mr. Curtice was a director of the Com- mercial Bank. In all of his business life he dis-


played an aptitude for successful management and a ready ability for solving intricate business prob- lems. Starting as he did, with small beginnings, he continually broadened the scope of his under- takings, and accomplished a steadily increasing success. He was a man of untiring energy, of great business courage and of uncommonly sound judgment. He found in the faithful performance of each day's duties strength and power for the labors of the succeeding day. As has been already said, he died on the 7th of February, 1905.


On the 5th of January, 1881, Mr. Curtice was married to Miss Christine Roodenburg, a native of Holland. Mrs. Curtice died in May, 1884, leaving besides her husband, one daughter, Grace C. Cur- tice, who still survives her father.


Mr. Curtice was one of the charter members of the old Windsor Club, which later became the Rochester Club, of which he continued an active and prominent representative for many years. He was also a member of the Chamber of Commerce and a firm believer in the growth and future of Rochester, doing everything in his power for the upbuilding of a greater city, his labors proving ef- fective and far-reaching. He was a man who loved his business, was wide-awake and alert for every opportunity, possessing, moreover, a determina- tion and spirit of perseverance that enabled him to carry to successful completion whatever he un- dertook. He loved the business career for its own sake, as well as for the success it brought to him. In business circles he commanded the high- est admiration and goodwill of his contemporar- ies and in other relations of life gained the un- qualified respect of those with whom he was brought in contact.


America has made wonderful advancement along all lines of activity through the latter part of the nineteenth and the early part of the twen- tieth century and Mr. Curtice belonged to that class of enterprising, public-spirited citizens whose efforts kept Rochester apace with the universal progress and upbuilding. His name is enrolled among its leading men and his work was so clearly interwoven with the city's history that no volume purporting to treat of Rochester and its growth would be complete withont the record of Simeon G. Curtice.


BRACKETT H. CLARK.


History is no longer a record of wars, conquests and strife between man and. man as in former years but is the account of business and intellec- tual development, and the real upbuilders of a community are they who found and conduct suc-


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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.


cessful commercial and industrial interests. In this connection Brackett H. Clark was widely known, being one of the directors and secretary of the Eastman Kodak Company from its organi- zation in 1884 until his death. He was also financially connected with the Clark Paint & Oil Company but not active in its management.


Mr. Clark was born in Salem, Massachusetts, on the 17th of January, 1821. His youth was passed in that locality and for some time he re- sided in Virginia and in New York city prior to his arrival in Rochester in 1857. From that time forward he was connected with the business interests of this place. In the year of his arrival he began operating a stave factory at the corner of the Erie canal and Lyell avenue and engaged in the manufacture of staves until 1884. The length of his continuation with this enterprise proves its suc- cess. The business gradually developed along healthful lines and he enjoyed a liberal patron- age. Each forward step he took in his career brought him a broader outlook and wider view, and having demonstrated his power and capacity in the business world, his co-operation was sought by the Eastman Kodak Company, which he joined upon its organization in 1884, becoming a di- rector and secretary. To know the history of Rochester in the last three decades is to know the history of the Kodak Company. It has become the leader in this line of business in the world and one of the most important enterprises of the city, contributing not only to individual success but also to the growth and development of Roch- ester through the employment which it furnishes to many hundred people. Mr. Clark brought to his new work keen discernment and native intel- lectual strength, and as the years passed by he aided in no small measure in the marvelous devel- opment of this enterprise, which has now reached mammoth proportions.


Pleasantly situated in his home life Mr. Clark was married to Miss Lucretia Bowker, of Salem, Massachusetts, and a daughter of Joel Bowker, one of the old Salem merchants. In their family were two sons: Daniel R. and George H.


Mr. Clark was a republican in politics. He held membership in Plymouth church, in the work of which he was much interested, contributing gen- erously to its support and doing all in his power for its development. He served as a trustee and deacon and the value of his labor in behalf of the church was widely recognized by all who were associated with him in that organization. He was benevolent and kindly, was liberal in his views and possessed a charity that reached out to all hu- manity. His efforts toward advancing the inter- ests of Rochester are so widely recognized that they can be considered as being no secondary part of his career of signal usefulness. His death oc- curred March 22, 1900, and thus passed away one


who enjoyed to the fullest extent the confidence and respect of all classes of people. Mrs. Clark still survives her husband, residing in the home which he purchased at No. 199 Lake avenue, and she has reached the advanced age of eighty-six years.


GEORGE ALVIN BROOKS.


George Alvin Brooks, of the firm of Brooks & Murphy, conducting a prosperous stock brokerage business in Rochester, was born in this city, No- vember 30, 1865. From an early period in the de- velopment of this portion of the state the family has been here represented. The paternal grand- father, John Brooks, was born in Chili; Monroe county, on the outskirts of Rochester, and was the owner of much property in Chili and Brockport. He lived for many years at "The Rapids" and it is believed that Brooks avenue was named in his honor. On leaving New York he went to Michi- gan, where he died at an advanced age.


His son, Alvin E. Brooks, was born March 27, 1822, and for many years was agent for Long- muir's brewery, but when it was destroyed by fire he became connected with Caldwell's bakery. He was also for a time with the State Industrial School. He died May 16, 1866, at the age of for- ty-four years and is still survived by his widow, who is now living at 205 Frank street in Roches- ter, where she has made her home for more than a half century. She is a member of the Methodist church, to which Mr. Brooks also belonged. They were married on the 27th of November, 1849, by the Rev. Henry Everard Peck. Mrs. Brooks bore the maiden name of Martha Van Brunt and was a daughter of Ralph Van Brunt, who was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1777. He came to Rochester with his family, on a canal boat, in 1832, and he conducted what was known as the Frankfort Market for a number of years, its Joca- tion being in the middle of Brown street. In a "Democrat and Chronicle," published June 9, 1884, is given the names that were in the first directory in the city of Rochester, published in 1834 by C. and M. Morse, and on the list is the name of Ralph Van Brunt, farmer. 3 Lyell street, and his two sons, John Van Brunt, laborer, 3 Lyell street. and Amos Van Brunt, blacksmith, 40 State street. In the Van Brunt family, how- ever. there were eleven children.


George. A. Brooks has spent his entire life in Rochester. He was a pupil in the public schools and when he put aside his text-books he entered the employ of the Traders National Bank, where he remained for nineteen years, winning consecu- tive promotions from messenger boy to the posi- tion of paying teller. In 1899 hic left the bank to


GEORGE A. BROOKS.


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engage in his present business, becoming the senior member of the firm of Brooks & Murphy, stock brokers and dealers in stocks, bonds, cotton, etc. They have a large clientage and Mr. Brooks is regarded as one of the best informed men con- cerning stock values and market proceedings in Rochester.


On the 30th of November, 1886, Mr. Brooks was married to Miss Minnie M. Barton, a daugh- ter of James and Mary (Crippen) Barton. There are now two daughters in the family, Mabel and Emma May. The parents are members of Grace Methodist church and Mr. Brooks is serving on the board of trustees. Politically he has always been a republican but without aspiration for office as a reward for party fealty.


ANDREW WOLLENSAK.


The measure of what man accomplishes is not the height to which he has attained but the dis- tance between the starting point and the position he has now reached. Reared in this way, An- drew Wollensak has made an excellent record, for he arrived in Rochester practically penniless and today is owning and conducting an extensive and prosperous business in the manufacture of photo- graphic shutters and lenses. He is one of the strong and influential men whose lives have be- come a beneficial part of the history of this city. Tireless energy, keen perception, honesty of pur- pose, a genius for devising and executing the right thing at the right time, joined to every-day com- mon sense, guided by great will power, are his chief characteristics and therein lies the secret of his success.


A native of Germany, he was born in Wiechs, on the 13th of November, 1862. His paternal grandfather, Andrew Wollensak, died in Germany at the advanced age of eighty-two years, after de- voting his active life to the blacksmith's trade. His wife, Helena Wollensak, died in middle life and he afterward married again. He had four sons by his first marriage, all now deceased, and by the second marriage there were four sons and one daughter, of whom one is yet living, Stephen, of Berne, Switzerland.


John Wollensak, the father, was born in Ger- many and learned and followed the carpenter's trade. He wedded Elizabeth Bollin, a daughter of Johan Bollin, a laborer, who died in Germany at the age of seventy-eight years, while his wife, Mrs. Barbara (Mohr) Bollin was eighty-four years of age at the time of her demise. They had three daughters and two sons, of whom Matthias, of Undterhallau, Switzerland, is still living. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Johan Wollensak were born twelve


children, six sons and six daughters, of whom three survive, Andrew, John and Victoria, the latter the wife of John Hecks. The parents were members of the Catholic church and both died in their native country, the father in 1880, at the age of fifty-seven years, and the mother in 1874, at the age of forty-two years.


Andrew Wollensak was reared in his native country and attended the public schools to the age of fourteen years, when he left home to learn the trades of a millwright and machinist. He was employed in that way until he came to Ameri- ca, crossing the Atlantic in November, 1882. He settled in Rochester, where he was employed at his trade for a time and then entered the serv- ice of the Bausch & Lomb Company, continuing in their optical factory for sixteen years, during which time he won successive promotions until ne became foreman, acting in that capacity for four years. He left that establishment in June, 1899, and began business on his own account in the manufacture of photographic shutters and in 1903 he further extended his labors by taking up the work of manufacturing photographic lenses. The business was established on a small scale. He em- ploved but one boy but the excellence of his out- put soon attracted attention and brought him more orders until in the enlargement and growth of his business he now furnishes employment to one hundred and thirty people. He is the inventor of several photographic shutters. The building where he manufactures his goods is six stories in height and he occupies the fifth and sixth floors. His goods are sold throughout the entire world and the trade is constantly increasing.


On the 3d of January, 1884, Mr. Wollensak was married to Miss Frances Noll, a daughter of Joseph and Barbara (Trabert) Noll. They have one daughter, Emma. The parents are members of the Catholic church and Mr. Wollensak has been a trustee of St. Michael's for the past sixteen vears. His fraternal relations extend to the Knights of St. John, the Catholic Mutual Bene- fit Association, St. Anthony's Benevolent Society, the Badischen Benevolent Society and to the So- ciety of St. Michael's. In politics he casts an inde-


pendent ballot. He has never been a public man in social or political life but has been quite promi- nent in church circles and there is no good work either in the name of charity or the advancement of religion which does not find in him an earnest and material helper.


Furthermore his example is most commendable and worthy of emulation in business life. When he arrived in Rochester he had but five cents in his possession. He was a stranger in the city but since coming to this country he has heen without work for only one day. He was ambitious, willing to take up any task that would yield him an honest living, and his ability and trustworthiness were


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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.


soon proven. As the years have passed he has real- ized his ambition to make his name known throughout the world in connection with a busi- ness of large extent and importance. His success may be ascribed to persistent, determined pursuit of the business and to the fact that he is a man of honesty and integrity.


FRANK SCHWIKERT.


Frank Schwikert, whose name is found on the roll of Rochester's manufacturers, was born in Deckenshiet, near Coblentz, Germany, September 7, 1845. His father, Henry Schwikert, also a native of Dickenschiet near Coblentz, was a cabi- net-maker by trade. Following the death of his wife he disposed of his business interests in his native country and came to the United States eighteen years ago. Here he lived retired until his death, which occurred about 1891. Mrs. Schwikert, who bore the maiden name of Eliza Osmun, spent her entire life in Germany, where she passed away twenty-six years ago. Of five children of the family, two are living, Frank and John, the latter of Port Huron, Michigan.


Frank Schwikert acquired his education in the Catholic schools of his native place and under his father's direction learned the cabinet-maker's trade, which pursuit he followed between the ages of fourteen and nineteen years. The favorable re- ports which had reached him concerning the op- portunities and business advantages of the new world led him to come to the United States on the steamer Bremen and in 1864 he made the voyage to New York city. He did not tarry in the eastern metropolis, however, but went direct to Buffalo, New York, where he had friends, and later to Port Huron, Michigan, where he remained two years. He worked at his trade in the latter place as an employe of the Mulford Company, wood- turners and cabinet-makers. He afterward located at Detroit, where for six months he engaged in cabinet-making. On the expiration of that period he accepted a position in a billiard table manu- factory in Detroit, becoming foreman for the Smith Billiard Table Company, in which capacity he served from 1866 until 1872.


In the latter year he located in Rochester, where he established business as a manufacturer of bil- liard and pool tables and dealer in billiard sup- plies, also turning ivory balls and ten pin balls. The enterprise has now had a continuous existence of more than a third of a century, which fact alone is indicative of its success. The patronage has steadily increased until it has reached large pro- portions, the house being a foremost one in this line of manufacture in the middle states. About twenty-seven years ago the plant was destroyed by


fire, caused by the explosion of a boiler, and Mr. Schwikert lost everything he had. He has always made it a point of his business career to never mis- represent his goods and to fill all orders promptly and carefully, and as the years have passed he has maintained an unassailable reputation for reliable dealing.


In 1869, Mr. Schwikert was married, in Detroit, Michigan, to Miss Laura Miller of that city, a daughter of Antoine Miller, now deceased. They had five children, two sons now living: Charles O., who is in business with his father under the firm style of F. Schwikert & Son; and William, who is with Abner Adams, dealer in hardwood floors.


For twelve years Mr. Schwikert was captain of the Rochester Schutzenguilder, acting in that ca- pacity until it was disbanded. He is now a mem- ber of the Columbia Rifle Club and for twenty- five years has been connected with the United Workmen, while of Germania lodge, A. F. & A. M., he is also a member. His political views are in accord with the principles of democracy, and he is a communicant of St. Joseph's Catholic church. He does not consider himself bound by party ties in politics, however. It is one of the hopeful signs of the period that the business men of enterprise and merit are keeping well informed on the ques- tions and issues of the day and are more and more recognizing the fact that in municipal affairs politics should not enter largely, but that the ques- ton for consideration should be the capability and efficiency of the candidate for the control of the city's business. Mr. Schwikert has sincere affec- tion for the land of his adoption, being thoroughly in sympathy with its free institutions and repub- lican form of government. He is a very active man and one who owes his success entirely to his own efforts. Obstacles and difficulties have not been allowed to bar his path if they could be overcome by determined and earnest effort and his business career is one which illustrates the power of industry and perseverance in the active affairs of life. Every step that he has made has been premeditated and then sanctioned by mature judg- ment, contributing its share to the sum total of prosperity which has attended his efforts as a manufacturer.




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