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 4
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In December, 1875, Mr. Taylor was married to Miss Effie Davis, a daughter of Hiram Davis, a well known resident of Rochester, and they had four children, Mortimer, who died in 1892; Her- bert; Helen and Marion. Mr. Taylor belongs to Valley lodge, A. F. & A. M., and is a member of Iota chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa fraternity. Reared to the occupation of farming, and working in the fields for several seasons in his youth, be became imbued with the laudable ambition to at- tain something that would give him wider scope and has steadily advanced in those walks of life demanding intellectuality, business ability and fidelity. Today he commands the respect and es- teem not only of his community but throughout the state, especially in legal circles, where he has become known through his publications.
DAVID R. SINGLETON.
David R. Singleton, who has been closely asso- ciated with business interests in Hilton, is now owner of the Afton Farm, one of the valuable properties of the town of Hamlin. He is also pres- ident of the Hamlin Rural Telephone Company and has been associated with business interests of this locality in other ways, belonging to that class of representative American men who promote pub- lic progress while advancing individual prosperity. He was born in Massachusetts on the 24th of July, 1860, and is of Scotch lineage on the paternal side and of English descent in the maternal line. His father, D. S. Singleton, was born in Scotland in 1832, while the mother, who bore the maiden name of Emily Davy, was born in England in 1837. Having come to America in early life, they were married in Massachusetts. Both have now passed awav, the father's death having occurred in 1897, while his wife survived him for two years. In their family were five children.
David R. Singleton had comraratively limited educational privileges but for a time was a student
in the schools of Montreal. He has been connected with the business interests of Hilton and of the town of Hamlin since he attained his majority. In the year 1881 he joined J. B. Collamer in the own- ership and conduct of a produce house in Hilton and so continued for three years. He was after- ward engaged in the hotel business at Hilton for two and a half years, subsequent to which time he came to Hamlin. Here he purchased the Hamlin House, which he conducted with success until the spring of 1907, making it one of the best country hotels in Monroe county. He then sold out and purchased the Afton Farm, containing one hun- dred and forty-four acres. He is now well known as an orchardist, having thirty acres planted to apples, peaches and pears. He likewise has other farm property, comprising in all more than three hundred acres and the different tracts lie in the town of Hamlin. He employs ten men to assist him in the conduct of his business interests along agricultural and horticultural lines and aside from the farm he is well known as the president of the Hamlin Rural Telephone Company, which he as- sisted in organizing as one of a company of eight, who incorporated it in March, 1904. It was capi- talized for ten thousand dollars and is now paying a dividend of fifteen per cent. From the begin- ning it has proved a profitable enterprise, largely owing to the capable management and direction of Mr. Singleton.
In 1886 occurred the marriage of David R. Sin- gleton and Miss Nellie M. Herrick, who was born in the town of Parma, December 9, 1864. They are members of and attend the Baptist church and Mr. Singleton belongs to the Knights of the Mac- cabees and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, while his political allegiance is given to the republican party. He is prominent in its ranks and is the secretary of the republican county com- mittee, in which capacity he has served for six years. His opinions carry weight in its local coun- cils and it is well known that his aid is never sought in vain in support of progressive public measures.
ERNEST R. WILLARD.
Ernest Russell Willard, editor of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, was born in Jamestown, New York, March 11, 1856, a son of Darwin and Ann (Shaw) Willard. His grandfather. Hermis Willard, in early youth removed from Vermont to the Empire state settling at Jamestown, where he engaged in mechanical pursuits. Darwin Wil- lard served as a soldier in the Mexican war under General Winfield Scott. by whom he was promoted
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for bravery displayed at Chapultepec. He after- ward enlisted for service in the Civil war and was killed in the first battle in which his command participated.
Ernest R. Willard acquired his early education in the public schools of his native city and after- ward became a student in the Normal School at Jamestown, from which he was graduated. His first work was on the Jamestown Journal, then edited by Davis H. Waite, who subsequently be- came governor of Colorado and was known throughout the country as "Bloody Bridles Waite." For one year he was connected with the Buffalo Express. In 1875, when a young man of nine- teen years, he went to Rochester as reporter on the Democrat and Chronicle. He has since been connected with this paper and the story of his advancement is based upon close application, hard work and the development of his natural talents in the field of journalism. Promoted from one position to another, he has been editor-in-chief since 1891 and his life work finds its best expon- ent in the columns of the Democrat and Chron- icle, recognized as one of the leading papers of the state outside of New York city.
Mr. Willard was married in 1903 to Marie L. Perkins, a daughter of Hobart F. Atkinson, and they reside at No. 233 East avenue. In his po- litical affiliation Mr. Willard has long been a stalwart republican and his religious views are indicated by his membership in St. Andrew's Epis- copal church. He belongs to a number of leading military and social organizations, being a Son of the American Revolution, a member of the Legion of Honor, of the Genesee Valley Club and of the Country Club. Through his business associations he has become widely known among the prominent representatives of the press and has for almost a third of a century been a representative of Rochester's journalism.
OREB T. HUBBELL.
Oreb T. Hubbell, who is engaged in the im- plement business in Spencerport, was born in the town of Parma, this county, March 9, 1844, and is a representative of old New England families, be- ing a son of William and Caroline (Thorp) Hub- hell, who were natives of Berkshire county, Massa- chusetts, in which locality they were reared and married. They arrived in the town of Parma about 1840, making the trip on a canal packetboat from Albany. Here they resided until called to their final rest, the father passing away in 1886, at the age of eighty-three years. Their family numbered the following named : Jane, Eliza, Oreb T., Corry,
Almeda, Mary, Martha and Alice. Of this num- ber Almeda died in childhood.
In early youth Oreb T. Hubbell removed with his parents to the town of Ogden and has since resided within its borders. The public schools . afforded him his educational privileges and he re- mained upon the home farm until eighteen years of age when he enlisted for service in the Civil war, on the 26th of July, 1862, joining Company C, of the Fourth New York Heavy Artillery. The regiment was stationed at Fort Cochran, Fort Ramsey and Fort Ethan Allen, remaining near Washington until March, 1864. At that time Mr. Hubbell was transferred to the infantry and went to Brandy Station. He participated in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Courthouse, North Anna River, the battle of the Poe River, Cold Harbor and Petersburg, where the troops re- mained for a month, engaged almost constantly in active warfare. Mr. Hubbell was also in the battles of Deep Bottom, Reams Station and the Weldon Railroad. At the last named he was taken prisoner July 26, 1864, sent to Libby and subse- quently to Pemberton, to Belle Isle and to Salis- bury, North Carolina. On the 28th of February, 1865, he was paroled and returned to the Union lines on the 6th of March, being taken to Annap- olis, where he remained in camp until March 14th, when he received a furlough and returned home. He was honorably discharged July 26, 1865, after three years of active service on the battlefields of the south in loyal defense of the Union cause.
When the war was over Mr. Hubbell resumed farming in connection with his father. He was married in 1870 to Miss Clarissa Howard, who was born in the town of Hamlin, Monroe county, April 22, 1852, a daughter of Timothy and Laura (Boughton) Howard, natives. of Caledonia, New York, and of Connecticut respectively. The grand- parents were Isaac and Esther Howard. The former served in the war of 1812 and, as illustra- tive of the bravery which the wives of soldiers are often called upon to display, it is stated that while he was absent his wife went on horseback to Roch- ester with a bag of wheat which she had ground into flour-a thirty mile trip from Hamlin to Rochester. Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Howard had twelve children, of whom eight lived to maturity, as follows: Esther, William, Fannie, John, Julia, Leona, Clarissa and Sarah.
After his marriage Mr. Hubbell and his young wife began housekeeping in a little log cabin on the old home place. Later he bought a good farm in the neighborhood which he cultivated and ope- rated until about six years ago, when he removed to Adams Basin. He owned two small farms- one of sixteen acres and the other of forty acres. He has sold part of his land, however, to the Power Company and part to his son, retaining
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
the ownership of twenty-eight acres. During the past twelve years he has engaged in the im- plement business and is recognized as one of the leading merchants of his community.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hubbell have been born six children: Nellie, now the wife of George Kenyon, of Hamlin; Sarah, the wife of George Torphy, of Charlotte; William T., of the town of Ogden; Mary, who died at the age of eight years ; Frances, the wife of George Riexsinger of the town of Ogden ; and Carrie Belle, at home. The family is well known in this locality and the members of the household enjoy the hospitality of many of the best homes. Mr. Hubbell votes with the repub- lican party and has served as overseer of the poor of his town for sixteen years, being the present incumbent in office. He is a member of John H. Martindale post, No. 270, G. A. R., of Spencer- port; Etolian lodge, No. 479, A. F. & A. M., of Spencerport ; Riga Grange, at Churchville; and the Ogden Baptist church.
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REV. BENJAMIN O. TRUE.
1
Rev. Benjamin O. True, whose life work lives in the lives of many whom he influenced for good during the years of an active ministry and de- votion to the moral welfare of the race, passed away on the 18th of July, 1902, respected and honored by all who knew him. He was born in Meriden, New Hampshire, in December, 1845, his parents being Reuben and Hannah (Duncan) True. The father was a farmer in New Hamp- shire and spent his entire life in the old Granite state. His family numbered four children.
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In his boyhood days the Rev. Benjamin O. True came to Rochester, continuing his studies in the schools of this city. He was graduated from the Theological Seminary here, and in 1880 he re- turned to Rochester to teach at the seminarv. His graduation from the seminary occurred in 1870, and on the 31st day of May of that year he was ordained to the ministry in Baldwinsville, New York. His first pastorate was in that city, where he remained for two years. In 1872, however, he went abroad, spending the year in study and travel in Europe, and in 1873 he became pastor of the First church at Meriden, Connecticut, where he rendered acceptable service in the ministry until 1879. He then again went abroad to visit Europe and the Orient and following his return to his native country he was pastor of the Central church in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1880 and 1881. In the latter year he was called to the professor- ship of church history in the Rochester Theolog- ical Seminary, where he remained as an ahle edu- cator until 1889. when he again went to Europe,
spending parts of the years 1889 and 1890 on that side of the Atlantic. He was the author of Out- lines of Church History, printed for the use of students, and was recognized as a man of most scholarly attainments and broad erudition.
In 1874 the Rev. Benjamin O. True was united in holy bonds of matrimony to Miss Pamelia T. Smiley, who was born at Grafton, New Hamp- shire, and was a daughter of Dr. James and Eliza- beth (Lane) Smiley. Her father was for many years a practicing physician at Grafton. Unto Rev. and Mrs. True were born a son and two daughters : Harold E., who is attending medical college in Vermont ; Helen E., at home; and Ruth S., who is in college. In 1884 Rev. True built a beautiful home on Portsmouth terrace, where his widow and children now reside. He died July 18, 1902, honored and respected wherever known and most of all where he was best known. His life was characterized by the utmost fidelity to prin- ciple and by untiring zeal and consecration to his work, and he won the friendship and regard of many of the scholarly men of the east, who recog- nized him as a peer and esteemed him as a col- league. His many trips abroad brought him into close and intimate relations with the history of the old world, the manners and customs of the people and the religious development of the na- tions. Unlike many men who devote their lives to study, he possessed traits of thorough practi- cability and came into close touch with his parish- ioners and his students in their lives and interests, so that his teachings, his advice and his sympathy were of the utmost benefit to those who came un- der his instruction.
REV. AUGUSTINE M. O'NEILL.
Rev. Augustine M. O'Neill, pastor of the Im- maculate Conception church, to which he was ap- pointed in August, 1898, was born in Auburn, New York, on the 1st of October, 1859. He was educated in the parochial schools of Auburn and in St. Charles College at Ellicott City, Maryland, at Niagara University and at St. Joseph's Semi- nary in Troy, New York, As he progressed in his school work he hecame familiar with those branches of learning necessary for active work in the priesthood, and following the completion of his theological course was ordained in Rochester on the 25th of March, 1884. For eighteen month? thereafter he was a teacher in St. Andrew's Semi- narv and then on account of ill health went west to Colorado, spending some years in Denver. Upon his return to the east he was made pastor of the church at Scottsville, New York, where he re- mained for a year and a half. and on the expira-
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
tion of that period he was transferred to Phelps, New York, where he remained for seven and a half years. In August, 1898, he was appointed pastor of the Immaculate Conception church in Rochester. This parish is one of the largest in the city, having three school buildings with ten hun- dred and twenty-five pupils. When Father O'Neill took charge of the parish there was an indebted- ness of about twenty-five thousand dollars on the church, all of which has been liquidated, while in 1906 a beautiful parochial convent was built for the sisters, at a cost of thirty-four thousand dollars.
Fifty-nine years ago, when the first priest con- ducted the first service in this parish, it was held in an old stone house on the site which fifty-eight years later was purchased to serve as a site for the present convent built in 1906. The property of the parish consists of the church, the rectory, the parochial convent and three schoolhouses, in- cluding a spacious hall, which will accommodate about one thousand people, and the property valua- tion is about two hundred thousand dollars. Rev. George W. Eckl and Rev. Andrew V. Byrne are assistants to Rev. O'Neill, who during the nine years of his pastorate here has done a splendid work. The membership of the church and the at- tendance at the school have greatly increased and the different branches of the church work have been systematized and placed upon an excellent basis. Rev. O'Neill is a man of scholarly attain- ments and broad charity and the Catholic in- terests of Rochester find in him a most zealous and consecrated supporter.
HON. FREDERICK E. GOTT.
Hon. Frederick E. Gott is the owner of the Beechwood Fruit Farm, situated on the Lyell road adjoining the village of Spencerport on the east. It is a splendid property, devoted to the raising of fruit and stock and in both connections Mr. Gott has gained more than local reputation, being well known throughout the state as an authority on many matters relating to horticultural and agricultural pursuits. Nor has he been without influence in political circles and is justly accounted one of the prominent and leading residents of Monroe county.
He is a representative of one of the old New England families that was founded in Connecticut at a very early epoch in the colonization of the new world. The ancestry is traced back to Charles Gott, who was born March 12, 1598, while his wife, Thankful Palmer, was born June 3, 1600. On the 20th of June, 1628, with their two daugh- ters, Remember and Bethiah, they sailed on the
ship Abigail, Henry Gardner, Master, from Wey- mouth, England, and in the month of September arrived at Salem, Massachusetts, becoming the founders of the family in the new world. Suc- cessive generations remained residents of Connec- ticut and it was in Hebron, that state, that Samuel Gott, father of our subject, was born in 1797. He came to Monroe county about 1830 and removed from Springwater to Ogden, New York. He was yet single and he engaged in teaching school in Springwater and at Naples. The residue of his life, however, was spent upon the farm which is now the home of his son Frederick. Here he had originally one hundred acres of valuable land, a part of which, however, was claimed for canal and railroad purposes, while a portion was transformed into village lots. He was a successful agricul- turist and at one time owned three different farms but prior to his death sold two of these. In poli- tics he was a republican, stanch in support of the party yet without aspiration for office. In his earlier life he held membership in the Ogden Pres- byterian church but afterward became a member of the Congregational church. Returning from New York to Connecticut, he was there married to Chloe Gilman, a native of the latter state, who died in 1876 at the age of seventy-five years, Mr. Gott surviving for about ten years, when on the 1st of June, 1886, he, too, passed away. In their family were seven children but only Frederick E. is now living. The others were: Horace, George G., Emma E., Henry E., Eliza A. and Jennie L.
Frederick E. Gott is a worthy successor of his father in agricultural lines and has manifested a spirit of enterprise and progress which has led him to advance beyond many of his neighbors in carry- ing on the interests of his farm. He was educated in the public schools and trained to the duties of field, meadow and orchard. His birth occurred October 13, 1851, in the house which is yet his home. At the usual age he began his education in the public schools of Spencerport, passing through successive grades until he became a high-school student. He afterward attended the Parma In- stitute and the Brockport Normal and thus ac- quired a liberal education. He has always resided upon his farm in the town of Ogden, having here seventy-five acres of valuable and productive land known as the Beechwood Fruit Farm. It is pleasantly and conveniently located on the Lyell road adjoining the corporation limits of Spencer- port on the east. It is devoted to the raising of fruit and stock, Mr. Gott making a specialty of thoroughbred Jersey cows, Cheshire hogs and Ply- mouth Rock chickens. In his horticultural inter- ests he devotes most time to apples, pears, peaches, prunes, cherries and currants. Mr. Gott studies along scientific and practical lines and his experi- ments, research and investigation have brought to him a comprehensive knowledge of the best meth-
FREDERICK E. GOTT.
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
ods of producing fruit. During the past five years he has been a conductor of farmers' insti- tutes under the state department of agriculture all over the state of New York and has continued his labors in that direction to some extent in other states.
On the 14th of February, 1900, Mr. Gott was united in marriage to Miss Emma A. Church, who was born in the town of Ogden, October 1, 1857, while her parents, Charles and Martha E. (Whit- tier) Church, were also natives of that locality. The father died at Flint, Michigan, but the mother's death occurred in Monroe county. Mr. and Mrs. Gott are members of the Congregational church at Spencerport and are greatly esteemed in the community where they reside. For the past sixteen years Mr. Gott has been teacher of a large Sunday school class, outnumbering any other in the school, and in giving instruction in biblical history he informs himself as thoroughly on that subject as he does in conducting his work for ag- ricultural and horticultural progress. Greatly in- terested in everything pertaining to the farm life of the state, he is connected with both the state and national Granges and also belongs to Ogden Grange, No. 111. His fraternal relations likewise extend to Etolian lodge, No. 479, A. F. & A. M., of Spencerport. In politics an unfaltering advo- cate of republican principles, he has at intervals for twenty years served as justice of the peace and for seven years was supervisor of the town of Og- den. In the fall of 1896 he was elected to repre- sent his district in the general assembly and proved a capable and active member of the house, doing all in his power to promote legislation that would prove effective in advancing the interests of the commonwealth at large.
DANIEL M. BEACH.
Daniel M. Beach, an attorney at law at the Rochester bar, was born in Watkins, New York, May 24, 1873, and is a son of Daniel and Angelica C. (Magee) Beach, both of whom were natives of the Empire state. The father is in Watkins, New York. He was general counsel for the Fall Brook Railroad for many years or until it was absorbed by the New York Central Railroad system, and is a member of the state board of regents.
Daniel M. Beach, having acquired his education in the public schools of Watkins and at Fort Hill school in Rochester, was graduated in 1889. He also attended Hobart College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1892, prior to entering the law department of Columbia College-the New York Law School-where he completed the
regular course with the class of 1896. He was then admitted to the bar and entered upon the active practice of his profession in the fall of 1897 in the office of Harris & Harris. In January, 1905, he was admitted to the firm of Harris & Harris, which later, in March, 1907, was changed to Har- ris, Haven, Beach & Harris, James S. Haven be- ing admitted.
On the 31st of October, 1901, was celebrated the marriage of Daniel M. Beach and Miss Marion H. Lindsay, of Rochester. They have three chil- dren, Daniel M., Lindsay and Alexander Beach. Mr. Beach is a member of the Rochester Country Club and the Genesee Valley Club, while in the path of his profession his connection is with the Rochester Bar Association.
HUGH E. STUART.
Hugh E. Stuart, for thirty years a contractor and builder of Rochester, has figured prominently in the city during these years-a period marked by entire revolution in building operations. Mr. Stuart was born in Cobourg, Canada, May 20, 1852. His father, John Stuart, was a native of Ireland and became a contractor and builder, carrying on business in Canada and in Rochester, but is now deceased.
Hugh E. Stuart acquired his early education in the schools of his native town and when a youth of ten years accompanied his parents on their re- moval to this city, after which he continued his education in the free schools of Rochester. He entered upon his varied duties as a contractor with admirable equipment, being a practical builder. He was "to the manner born," going to his trade in his youth under the capable mastership of his father and carrying out his projects with such industry that many handsome structures of the city are now credited to him. He has continued in business as a contractor and builder for three decades, having his office for twenty-seven years on Aqueduct street, while three years ago he re- moved to his present location at No. 33 South Water street. Here he has commodious quarters and the latest improved machinery for carrying on the work of the character needed in his building operations. He has built many substantial homes and has thus added to the beauty and growth of the city. As has been stated, the past two or three decades have witnessed a remarkable evolution in building operations. As never before, study and thought have been given to proper sanitation and a combination of utility and adornment. Mr. Stuart has kept pace with the march of progress in these directions and his thoroughness and his integrity are also elements of his success.
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