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 29
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In his political views Mr. Collamer was a stal- wart republican, while fraternally he was con- nected with the Masonic lodge, No. 779, in which he served as master. He died in 1906 after a life of usefulness and activity which was far-reaching in its effects, proving a source of the county's de- velopment as well as of individual gain.
Mr. Collamer has worthy successors in his two sons, Eugene E. and George R. Collamer. The mother and two daughters of the family are also living. Mrs. Clara L. Wood, the elder daughter, was born June 2. 1874, and was married in Parma, January 19, 1898. Edna E. Collamer, the younger daughter, was born August 18, 1886. Of the sons, Eugene E. was born October 28, 1870, and George R. on the 13th of July, 1882. They were the eldest and the third members of the family respectively. Upon the home farm they were reared and became assistants and associates
JOHN B. COLLAMER.
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
of their father in business. They are both known as leading representatives of horticultural inter- ests in a district which is prominent as a fruit- growing center. The home farm of one hundred and forty acres has one hundred and twenty-four acres devoted to fruit, seventy-five acres being planted to apples, twenty-five acres to pears, seven acres to plums, fourteen acres to peaches and three acres to cherries. In connection with the home farm the brothers have two hundred and twenty acres on the lake shore in the town of Hamlin. They have forty acres of the Collamer's twenty ounce and ten acres of Alexanders apples. There are also twenty-five acres of peaches and seven acres of pears. The Collamer estate comprises the largest twenty ounce orchard in the world and they also produce the largest amount of Alex- anders in the state. Before the father planted his new orchard on the lake shore farm in 1903 he prophesied that by the time the orchard came into bearing there would be an electric road to carry his fruit and the prophesy has long since been ful- filled. There is also a railroad switch on the home farm built for their own accommodation, furnish- ing excellent shipping facilities, for upon their own land they can thus load all of their fruit and unload all of their freight, fertilizers and other needed equipments. J. B. Collamer gave to the railroad company the right of way through his farm and afterward secured the switch for his own accommodation. The farm is pleasantly and conveniently located about a mile west of the vil- lage of Hilton. There are now three tenant houses on the home place and two on the lake farm. Through the summer months the Collamer brothers employ nine men and in the harvest sea- son have about thirty-five. They also have a boarding and lodging house upon their place, in which they furnish board to all their help. Every- thing is conducted on strictly business principles. All apples when picked are delivered to a sorting table and there sorted and barreled, heing loaded into cars standing on the switch, so that they never touch the ground. None are left uncared for over night, everything being cleaned up and the management of the business displays the cap- able control and keen discernment of the brothers. They have two spray rigs run by a gasoline engine of the Fuller & Cooper make of Williamson. They spray from two to six times during the sea- son, plow and cultivate their orchards one year and mulch them the next. They also turn under a crop of clover once in two years and likewise put manure upon their place in addition to com- mercial fertilizers. With all of the large amount of orcharding which has claimed their time and attention they have never seen the appearance of the San Jose scale now so common in California. They raise all their own nursery stock and have
perfected the fruit raised until their orchards are unsurpassed in the state. The home farm is located about a mile west of the village of Hilton.
Eugene E. Collamer was married in 1891 to Miss Bertha E. Kirk, of Parma, and they have two children: Stewart A., born April 5, 1893; and John William, born September 16, 1903. George R. Collamer was married on the 28th of June, 1905, to Miss Mand E. Walrath, and they have a son, Warren, born December 29, 1906. The Collamer families are well known in this sec- tion of Monroe county and the representatives of the name are prominent socially, while in busi- ness circles the Collamer brothers occupy a very prominent position, being recognized as leaders in the horticultural development of this section of the state.
WALTER HENRY CARTER.
Walter Henry Carter, organist and choirmaster of Christ church and teacher of voice and piano, with studio in the Beckley building in Roches- ter, is a native of Bristol, England. He was born on the 2d of April, 1866, and his parents, Jesse and Elizabeth (Sage) Carter, are still resi- dents of that country. In the schools of Clifton, England, Professor Carter of this review ac- quired his literary education, after which he was articled to John Barrett, chorister of Christ church at that place, under whose direction he be- gan his musical education. He afterward attend- ed the Merchant's Ventures Technical College, of Bristol, England, and his first appointment to professional service made him organist and choir- master of St. Augustin's church at Bristol. He resigned that position in order to come to the United States in 1888 on a visit to his brother. Being pleased with the country, he determined to remain and secured the position of organist and director of the vested choir in St. Mark's church, of Brooklyn, New York. Subsequently he ac- cepted the appointment of organist in St. Luke's cathedral, in Portland, Maine, where he remained for fourteen years. In May, 1903, he came to Rochester, where he has since resided, and at this writing, in 1908, is organist and choirmaster of Christ church, one of the leading Episcopal churches of the city.
Professor Carter is a graduate and holds diplo- mas from the Royal Academy of Music in organ, piano and theory and is a member of the Incor- porated Society of Musicians of Great Britain. Trained under some of the ablest masters of the old world in the development of the talent with which nature had endowed him, he stands today as one of the foremost representatives of musical
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
circles in western New York. Aside from his connection with the church, he conducts a studio for the teaching of the voice and piano in the Beckley building, where he has a most attractive and tastefully furnished suite of rooms. His class of pupils is large and is constantly growing, leaving him little leisure time.
In June, 1906, was celebrated the marriage of Professor Carter and Miss Edith Bellmont, of Rochester, and theirs is an attractive social posi- tion, while Professor Carter's standing in musical circles is equally high. Although a resident of the city for but four years, he has received marked recognition in his profession and has done not a little to promote musical culture in this city, where he has also made a host of friends.
CHARLES FREDRICK BOYLAN.
Prominent among musicians of Rochester is Charles Fredrick Boylan. His prominence is self acquired but not self assuming. It is the shining of many points of light that makes the brilliance of a star, and Mr. Boylan shines in the Rochester musical world through the proficiency of his pupils. Himself a skilled musician, he rarely appears in public performance, to the great regret of music loving Rochester. If Mr. Boy- lan's time were not so fully occupied with his classes, both vocal and piano, he might be ac- cused of being a lazy man, but when one listens to his pupils he understands why it is quite unneces- sary for Mr. Boylan to sing or play in public.
Mr. Boylan was born in Newark, New Jersey, and through his father, Charles Boylan, inherits the blood of the Protestant aristocracy of north Ireland, his great-grandfather having been a mem- ber of parliament of that section. His mother was Ann Currie Clark, of New Jersey, a member of one of the oldest families of the state and claims the proud distinction of being a Daughter of the Revolution, the genealogical documents entitling her to membership being in possession of Mr. Bovlan.
Mr. Boylan came to Rochester by way of Lima, where he studied at the Genesee Wesleyan Sem- inary. At a very early age he manifested the first evidences of a musical temperament. At the age of two years he began to sing and showed such an inborn love of music that it was early deter- mined that he should have the benefit of a musical education. At nine years he began to study the piano and at eleven made his first appearance in public. Meanwhile he had developed into a boy soprano that today would be the envy of the con- cert manager, reaching high C with ease and un- usual power for a boy. At Lima he pursued a
four years' course in piano, organ, harmony and counterpoint. Mr. Boylan numbers among his many teachers in piano Carl Baerman, of Boston, one of the most inaccessible of teachers, accepting only such pupils as please him. Mr. Boylan also studied with Dr. William Mason, of New York, for many years known as the dean of music of America. Having established himself as a teacher of piano he began to turn his attention to the art of singing. That splendid voice of the boy so- prano was in him somewhere and he proposed to find it. To this end he has employed all his leis- ure time-chiefly in vacation-to the cultivation of his voice, which has developed into a tenor of exceptional purity and sweetness. He has studied the best vocal authorities of America and Europe and is an advocate of the pure Italian principle of singing. In his dual achievement as a suc- cessful teacher both of voice and piano Mr. Boy- lan is a convincing illustration of a principle to the effect that the piano should not be studied alone to obtain the best results, that a pianist is a better pianist when he is also a good singer, and that a singer is a better singer for having studied the piano.
Mr. Boylan does not permit his pupils to give too many recitals during the season but when they do it is an event in Rochester musical circles. Its importance is evidenced not only by the quality and manner in which the music is rendered but also by the quality of the audience it attracts. With the added resources of his vocal classes to draw upon, his programs are most attractive and the local season affords few more delightful musi- cales than a Boylan recital.
ALLEN ANSON DOYLE.
Allen Anson Doyle, the senior partner in the Doyle & Gallery Coal Company, thus continuing a business that was established by his father over thirty years ago, is one of Rochester's native sons, born on the 12th of July, 1880. His father, Henry French Doyle, spent his entire life in this city and was in the coal trade for thirty-two years at the present location of the Doyle & Gallery Com- pany. He thus became widely known in commer- cial circles in the city and was, moreover, esteemed as an active and useful resident of Rochester, who stood for progress, reform and improvement. He held membership in the Brick Presbyterian church and Valley lodge, No. 109, A. F. & A. M., associa- tions which indicated much of the character of the man and the principles which governed his life. He died January 13, 1906, at the age of fifty-seven years, and was laid to rest in Mt. Hope cemetery. His wife, who still survives him, bore
HENRY F. DOYLE.
ALLEN A. DOYLE.
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
the maiden name of Mary Elizabeth Callister and was born in Rochester, January 3, 1852, a daugh- ter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Woulf) Callister and a sister of Frank B. Callister, now a promi- nent hardware merchant of Rochester, doing busi- ness on West. Main street. Thomas Callister, who was a native of the Isle of Man and a carpenter by trade, died in 1882, but his wife is still living at the age of eighty years. She is of Irish descent. The family and Mr. and Mrs. Doyle consisted of four sons and one daughter, namely : Harry Craig, Hessy Elizabeth, Allen Anson, Frank Hector and Raymond Elliott.
Allen A. Doyle completed a grammar-school course in public school No. 6 and afterward en- tered the Rochester high school, from which he was graduated in the class of 1899. He entered business life in the capacity of bookkeeper for F. B. Callister, his uncle, with whom he remained for three years, on the expiration of which period he took charge of the coal business established by his father and has since successfully conducted this enterprise. He is a pushing, energetic young busi- ness man, a type of the spirit of the age, brooking no obstacles that can be overcome by deter- mined and honorable purpose and bringing to his business the resolution and diligence that over- comes all difficulties.
Mr. Doyle votes with the republican party, which he has supported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He is a member of Valley lodge. No. 109, A. F. & A. M., and is much es- teemed socially in the city where his entire life has been passed. He was married June 26, 1906, to Miss Josephine Lucile Weller, a daughter of Dr. J. L. Weller of Rochester and a native of Honeoye Falls, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Doyle are well known in social circles and their own pleasant home is a most hospitable one.
LEWIS D. CLEMENTS.
Lewis D. Clements, filling the position of city clerk, was born in Rochester, December 30, 1873, his parents being David and Annie E. (Wimble) Clements, who were natives of New York. The father died when his son Lewis was but thirteen months old and the latter was educated in the pub- lic schools of Rochester, passing through the suc- cessive grades in school No. 20. On putting aside his text-books he learned the machinist's trade, which he followed for eleven years. He then went to Albany. New York, and in 1899 was ap- pointed as a messenger to the senate desk for two years. He was afterward stationery clerk for the succeeding two years and later was promoted to the position of deputy clerk in charge of city bills
in the senate. Later he was appointed deputy United States marshal on the 14th of December, 1903, and acted in that capacity for two years, when he resigned to accept the position of city clerk of Rochester, receiving the unanimous sup- port of both democrats and republicans in the common council for the term of 1906-7. He is a young man who has always taken a great interest in politics, has become well known in political circles and from early life has served almost con- tinuously in positions of public responsibility, his course showing that he is well worthy the trust reposed in him. He discharges his duties in prompt and able manner and with a sense of con- scientious obligation that makes him a most worthy and desirable official. He is popular in both political and social circles and has many warm friends in Rochester. Fraternally he is connected with Tippecanoe lodge, I. O. O. F., and Rochester City lodge, No. 212, K. P.
MILTON BRIGHAM.
Milton Brigham was a venerable resident of the town of Ogden when, on the 20th of September, 1897, he was called to his final rest. He was born in that town on the 18th of June, 1825, and his life was ever characterized by those high principles and manly purposes that in every land and clime awaken confidence and regard. He was a son of Captain John Brigham, a native of Westmoreland, Oneida county, New York, who in early manhood was married on the 25th of January. 1816, to Miss Susan Moore. In the following March they removed to Monroe county, settling in the town of Ogden, and from Rochester to his destination Mr. Brigham followed a blazed trail-such was the pioneer condition of the country. He met with the usual experiences and hardships incident to the settlement of the frontier. He would go to mill on horseback, carrying with him his grist, and having purchased a tract of land he built thereon a log cabin and began clearing the land, which was covered with a dense growth of timber. In the course of time he had developed the fields into a productive tract and throughout his remaining days he carried on general agricultural pursuits. He was captain of a company in the state militia in the old days of military organization when the company trained in the town of Ogden. Nor was his religious duty neglected, for he served during many years as deacon of the Ogden Center church and did everything in his power to promote the moral development of the community. He was a man of tall and athletic build, strong physically, mentally and morally, and aside from what he did for the county in the line of material develop-
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
ment he was known as one whose influence was ever on the side of reform, progress and improve- ment. Both he and his wife died on the old fam- ily homestead. They had six children : Mrs. Caro- line E. Hiscock, Orville, John D., Alonzo, Milton and Charles. All have now passed away with the exception of Charles, who is living in Spencerport.
In taking up the personal history of Milton Brigham, we present to our readers the life rec- ord of one who was long widely and favorably known in his locality. He was reared to the occu- pation of farming and followed that pursuit throughout his entire life, owning and cultivating an excellent tract of land of one hundred acres. He was born in the southern part of the town and later his parents purchased a farm, to which the family removed and upon which Milton Brigham spent his remaining days. He was a very suc- cessful agriculturist, systematic and careful in his business management, thorough and reliable at all times. He was indeed in many ways an exemplary man and the community looked up to him as one whose example was well worthy of emulation.
On the 25th of October, 1850, Mr. Brigham was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Finch, who was born in Otsego county, New York, July 19, 1830, and went to Rochester with her parents, William and Clara (Morse) Finch. In their family were four children: Carrie, the wife of Willford Brower, who is now operating the old homestead farm for her mother; John H., a trav- eling salesman; Henry M., an attorney of New York city; and Minnie, the wife of George C. Carr, of Los Angeles, California.
Mr. Brigham held membership with the Grange and was always interested in anything that per- tained to the agricultural development of the locality or the country at large. He was a man who enjoyed life and his record was unlike that of many so-called successful men of the present age, whose capacity for earning far exceeded their capacity for enjoyment. He traveled quite broad- ly, read widely and gleaned much information and pleasure from both. He possessed a very cheerful nature and kindly disposition and looked ever upon the bright side of life. He was at all times actuated by high purposes, the community finding in him a stalwart temperance worker, who exemplified his belief in the temperance cause by principle and example. A devoted member of the Congregational church in Spencerport from its organization, he served as one of its deacons for more than twenty-one consecutive years. In pol- ities he was a republican and acted as overseer of the poor of the town for a number of years. He possessed keen sympathy for the unfortunate and did what he could to alleviate hard conditions of life. He knew the meaning of the term "the joy of living," gaining that happiness which
arises from duty well performed, from close fol- lowing of high ideals and from keen appreciation of all the beauties as manifest in animate and in- animate nature.
A. FRANK WARREN.
A. Frank Warren is at the head of the Warren- Smith Company, incorporated, dealers in improved and unimproved property. He is, moreover, con- nected with several other important business in- terests of the city, but is perhaps best known as one of the most prominent real-estate men of Rochester. His achievements represent the fit utilization of the innate talent which is his. He has so employed the opportunities that have come to him that he is now one of the busiest, most en- ergetic and most enterprising men of Rochester and, moreover, is one of the most successful.
Mr. Warren was born in Walworth, Wayne county, New York, on the 27th of November, 1867, his parents being George N. and Mary (Fay) Warren, the former a native of Wisconsin and the latter of Michigan. The father was a building contractor of Walworth and was also active in public affairs. He held membership in the Baptist church and died in that faith in the year 1901. He had long survived his wife, who passed away when their son Frank was but five years of age. Five children of the family are still living.
A. Frank Warren acquired his education in the public schools of Walworth and of Macedon, New York, and entered business life in connection with paper box manufacturing in the employ of the K. D. Box Company of Cleveland, Ohio. He was thus occupied for two years, after which he becames connected with the Buedingen Box & Lithographing Company of Rochester. His as- sociation with that firm was maintained for some time. Subsequently he removed to Lockport, New York, where he was engaged in the steam laundry business for five years, receiving a large patronage which made the enterprise a most profitable one. In 1898 he came to Rochester and embarked in the real-estate business, in which he operated alone for six years. In 1904 the present Warren-Smith Company was incorporated. They are extensive dealers in improved and unimproved property and also conduct a renting agency. The offices were first in the Granite building, until its destruction by fire, when they removed successively to the Wilder and Livingston buildings, but in March, 1905, returned to their present location in the Granite building. Mr. Warren has made it a point to thoroughly acquaint himself with city property and there is perhaps no one more famil- iar with realty values and with the possibilities
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
for purchase and sale than he. He has made a study of the business, and his close application and unremitting diligence have gained him the distinctive position which he occupies in real-estate circles today. He is a member of the New York Real Estate Association ; of the Allied Real Estate Association of New York City; and the Roches- ter Chamber of Commerce. Aside from his oper- ations in the field of real-estate dealing, he is president of the Avon Springs Association Sanita- rium Company and president of the Pierce Wring- er Company, extensively engaged in the manufac- ture of wringers in Rochester.
In 1888 occurred the marriage of A. Frank Warren and Miss Sara L. Churchill, of Batavia, New York. They hold membership in the Meth- odist church and Mr. Warren's fraternal relations are with Yonnondio lodge, No. 163. A. F. & A. M. He is also a member of the Masonic Club. His connection with these organizations indicates the principles which govern his conduct and attest his views of the questions bearing upon sociolog- ical and ethical issues. In politics he is a republi- can. He has the courage of his convictions and is recognized as a man of strict integrity, whom neither fear nor favor can swerve from a course which he believes to be right.
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WILLIAM A. FLYNN.
William A. Flynn, president of the James Reynolds Company, steam fitters and plumbers at Rochester, is one of Monroe county's native sons, his birth- having occurred in Greece, on the 14th of September, 1870. His parents, Mat- thew A. and Mary (Walker) Flynn. were old residents of the county, the former following the occupation of farming as a livelihood. How- ever, during the early boyhood of his son William he removed to Rochester, so that the latter pur- sued his education in the public schools here. After putting aside his text-books he prepared for life's practical duties by learning the plumbing and steam-fitting trade, which he followed as an employe until 1903. He then entered into a partnership with Henry W. O'Neill, under the firm style of Flynn & O'Neill, in the conduct of a plumbing and steam-fitting business on their own account. After conducting their establish- ment for two years they purchased the business of the James Reynolds Company, plumbing and steam-fitting contractors and have since operated under that name. They are now conducting an extensive business, constantly growing in extent and importance and from the beginning Mr. Flynn has been president of the firm. They em- ploy a large number of skilled workmen and
their faithfulness and promptness in the exe- cution of a contract are salient features in their success.
On the 14th of September, 1904, Mr. Flynn was married to Miss Florence Knope, a daughter of Joseph Knope, an old resident of Rochester. They now have one son. Mr. and Mrs. Flynn are com- municants of the Catholic church. In the county where his entire life has been passed Mr. Flynn had made a creditable record, which is indicated by the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his boy- hood to the present.
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