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 41
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MATTHEW A. FLYNN.
Matthew A. Flynn, who for many years was identified with agricultural interests in Monroe county and spent his last days in honorable re- tirement in Rochester, was a representative of one of the oldest families of this portion of the state, the name of Flynn figuring in the town of Greece as early as 1807. It was in that town that Matthew A. Flynn was born in 1838 and on the 5th of October, 1898, he passed away. His par- ents were James A. and Catharine (McGuire) Flynn. The father was a captain on the Great Lakes and later became a farmer of the town of Greece. He was in command of a vessel in the war of 1812 and was captured by the English at Charlotte, but was held a prisoner for only one day, when he overpowered the guard and made his escape. He died in 1842 after devoting a num- ber of years to general agricultural pursuits in the town of Greece, and left his farm of one hundred and seventy acres to his three sons, including Matthew A. Flynn. This property is still in pos- session of the family and its boundaries have been extended until it now includes two hundred and sixty-two acres, constituting one of the finest farms in the town of Greece.
Matthew A. Flynn was reared to the occupation of farming, early becoming familiar with the work of field and meadow, and when he had reached man's estate he determined to continue in the same business as a life work. He therefore fol- lowed the tilling of the soil, annually harvesting good crops as year by year passed. Prosperity at- tended him in his undertakings and with a com-
MATTHEW A. FLYNN.
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
fortable competence he retired in 1893, renting his farm and making his home in Rochester. His remaining days were spent with his children in that city, where he died October 5, 1898.
In early manhood Mr. Flynn was married to Miss Mary Walker, of a well known family of farming people of the town of Greece. They be- came the parents of six children: Elizabeth M., now deceased; William A., who is mentioned else- where in this volume; Grace E .; Marie F .; James N., deceased; and Mary L.
In politics Mr. Flynn was a democrat, strong and active in support of the party, believing firm- ly in its principles, yet without desire for office. In fact, although often urged to become a candidate for political positions he steadfastly refused. His religious faith was that of the Catholic church. Although his educational privileges in youth were limited, he learned many valuable lessons in the school of experience and was a man highly re- spected throughout the community in which he made his home.
STRATTON C. LANGSLOW.
The line of differentiation which separates the successful from the unsuccessful is found not so much in the possession of opportunities on the one hand or the lack of them on the other as in the use which is made of them. It is only as the indi- vidual develops his latent qualities and strengthens his talents by use that he comes to be recognized as a strong individual factor, his powers setting him apart from the great majority as one whose work entitles him to recognition and to success. The wise use which he has made of the advantages that he has enjoyed have gained for Stratton C. Langslow the prominent place now accorded him in Rochester's business circles.
He was born in New York city on the 3d of July, 1857, but has been a resident of Rochester from the age of three years and acquired his edu- cation in the public schools here, while spending his boyhood days in the home of his parents, Henry A. and Catherine M. (Cardiff) Langslow. He is descended from English ancestry, being a grandson of Captain Richard Langslow, who for about twenty years served with the rank of captain in the military forces of the East India Company. In 1817 he visited the new world and made an extended tour of the United States. During his travels he kept a journal, which is now both curi- ous and valuable and which graphically illustrates the pioneer life and notable scenes en route. He traveled after the primitive manner of the times by stage or boat or by private conveyance. His son, Henry A. Langslow, was born within twelve
miles of London, England, November 16, 1830. and in 1849 crossed the Atlantic to America, land- ing in Nova Scotia. He went first to Prince Ed- ward's Island and afterward spent a year in Bos- ton, Massachusetts, subsequently taking up his abode in New York city, where he carried on vari- ous business interests for ten years. In 1850 he married Catherine M. Cardiff, a native of Char- lottetown, Prince Edward's Island, and they be- came the parents of five children : Henry Richard and Thomas Walter, now deceased; Louis A. G .; Stratton C .; and Helena M. All were born in New York city, and in 1860 the father brought his family to Rochester, where he was mainly engaged in the furniture business until his demise. In 1875 he became connected with the furniture firm of Burley & Dewey, predecessors of the I. H. Dewey Furniture Company, of which Mr. Langs- low was vice president until January, 1885, when he and his son, Stratton C. Langslow, withdrew.
The early entrance of Stratton C. Langslow into business life was as traveling salesman for the firm of Burley & Dewey, furniture manufacturers, with whom he remained for several years, when they were succeeded by the I. H. Dewey Furniture Company, Mr. Langslow maintaining his asso- ciation with the latter until 1885.
From the first he showed remarkable ability to handle men and to get the maximum of productive labor from them, at the same time holding their respect and affection. This combined with the force and ceaseless energy of his work brought him his first successes. As stated he and his father withdrew, and the firm of Langslow-Fowler & Company was organized. The senior partner was a man of broad practical experience in business and Stratton C. Langslow had had more than twenty years' experience in connection with the manufacture and sale of furniture. From the beginning the new enterprise prospered' and has long since attained very extensive proportions. Upon his father's death he became his successor in the business and by his far-sighted and conserva- tive, though extremely progressive policy, has steadily increased the yearly volume of business to the current year's production of over six hundred and fifty thousand dollars' worth of furniture, and giving employment to four hundred and fifty hands. The manufactured output because of its excellence and durability has been in constant de- mand and shipments are made by the company to all parts of the country.
Stratton C. Langslow was married in 1883 to Miss Mary E. Thompson, a daughter of John Thompson, of Ironton, Ohio, and they now have two children, Harry R. and Helena M. For al- most a half century the name of Langslow has figured in connection with the furniture trade in Rochester and the record has at all times been characterized by conformity to a high standard of
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commercial ethics, while the old and time tried maxims, such as "honesty is the best policy" and "there is no excellence without labor" have coul- stituted the working basis of the business.
GEORGE COOLEY GORDON.
On the roll of Brockport's honored dead appears the name of George Cooley Gordon, who for years was recognized as a man of great strength of char- acter, of high purpose and lofty principles. His activity and energy left their impress upon the community where for many years he was a leading business man. As a member of the firm of Luther Gordon & Son he was closely associated with the lumber industry and at the time of his death was also president of the First National Bank, president of the Brockport Loan and Build- ing Association and a trustee of the Fidelity Trust Company, of Buffalo, New York.
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His life record began in Rushford, New York, on the 1st of July, 1849, his parents being Luther and Florilla (Cooley) Gordon, who are mentioned on another page of this volume. He was nine years of age at the time of the removal of his parents to Brockport, where he attended the Colle- giate Institute, his education being further con- tinued in Rochester Academy. On attaining his majority he joined his father in the lumber busi- ness, the latter being one of the most extensive dealers in that line in this part of the state, and they carried on business under the firm name of Luther Gordon & Son. Unlike many young men who have the opportunity to enter upon a success- ful business established by a father, he made it his purpose to thoroughly familiarize himself with the business, working persistently and earnestly to acquaint himself with every detail, and his use- fulness soon proved a potent element in the suc- cess which attended the vast and varied business interests of the firm. The son assumed full con- trol upon the father's death in 1881 and in the management of affairs displayed most excellent judgment. He enlarged and extended his opera- tions and in all displayed most sound judgment. which was rarely, if ever, at fault. He succeeded his father as president of the First National Bank of Brockport and held that position throughout the remainder of his life. At the time of his death he was also president of the Brockport Loan & Building Association and trustee of the Fidelity Trust Company of Buffalo, New York. Ener- getic, progressive and thoroughly reliable, he won the unqualified confidence of all with whom he came in contact either in business or social life and in his death the community mourned the loss of one whose value had long since been proven
and whose genuine worth endeared him to all who knew him.
On the 18th of October, 1873, Mr. Gordon was united in marriage to Miss Ida M. Hooker, a most estimable lady, to whose wise counsel and aid he contributed much of his success in life. They became the parents of five children, namely : Luther; George Cooley; William H., who died in infancy ; Fred H .; and Thomas C. Mr. Gordon died at his summer home at Beachwood Park, on Lake Ontario, August 25, 1898, and his death was widely and deeply mourned, for through his varied business and social relations he had made many warm friends who esteemed him highly for his genuine worth.
In early life Mr. Gordon was a democrat but became a republican during President Cleveland's second term and ever afterward supported that party. Political honors had no attraction for him but as a public-spirited citizen he never withheld his support from any enterprise which he believed would advance the general welfare or promote the interests of his fellowmen. Over the record of his business career or private life there falls no shadow of wrong, for he was ever most loyal to the ties of friendship and citizenship and his his- tory well deserves a place in the annals of his native state. Mr. Gordon realized fully the obli- gations which devolve upon man in his relations to his fellowmen. He was instrumental in pro- moting all that tended toward the betterment of Brockport. He was ambitious for the city's good and brought to public interests the same devotion and energy that he manifested in his private business affairs. Moreover, he was charitable, kindly and benevolent, giving generously of his means to those in need and withholding the hand of aid at no time when he believed that his assist- ance would prove of benefit. He did not believe in the indiscriminate giving which fosters vag- rancy or idleness but he possessed in full measure "the milk of human kindness" and his spirit was one of helpfulness, based upon broad humanitarian principles.
HOWARD A. BARROWS.
Howard A. Barrows is a descendant of that sturdy Connecticut type of humanity that fought for independence in the colonial war and that has ever rebelled against any form of bondage. He was born at Le Roy, New York, August 10, 1855, and received his education at Batavia, New York. When a mere boy he was employed by the Union & Advertiser Company, of Rochester, as mailing clerk. He did his work so well that he was quickly promoted to head bookkeeper, a position he
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filled with with so much credit that he was offered and accepted a similar position on the Indianap- olis Sentinel. In a few months his former posi- tion at a better salary was offered him an he re- turned to Rochester, which city has since been his home. His first connection with the clothing busi- ness was with the manufacturing firm of Wile, Stern & Company, who had been impressed by his energy and solicited him to accept a position of trust and responsibility. He very soon developed a special aptitude for the clothing trade and at- tracted the attention of L. Adler Brothers & Com- pany, with whom he became connected in 1885, when he was yet a young man. Ten years later he was admitted to membership in this progressive and successful house, and for several years has been one of the directors whose judgment and ad- vice as a directing force in the steady growth of the business have been fully recognized and appre- ciated.
Mr. Barrows has charge of the extensive New England trade of the house in connection with his personal work in the manufacturing department. He believes in and practices the policy of strict in- tegrity and has been doing it so many years that he has earned the confidence of his customers to an unusual extent. It is said that he has never lost a desirable account for the reason that men 'to whom he sold goods found by experience that they could rely on what he told them as well as upon the clothing he sold them; and there has, conse- quently, grown up between him and them a bond of strong personal friendship, as well as of pleas- ant commercial relations that holds them together year after year. His personal ideals of merchan- dising harmonize perfectly with those of L. Adler Brothers & Company, thus making his business connection pleasant as well as profitable.
In 1903 Mr. Barrows saw the possibilities of the retail end of the clothing business in Rochester and bought the McFarlin Clothing Company, of which he is president and treasurer. No sooner had he acquired possession than he began systemat- ically to enlarge the company's facilities for doing business. In 1906 the business had grown to such magnitude that the whole building was secured, giving ample facilities for more than doubling the sale of fine clothing, so that today this store is the largest distributor of distinctly fine clothing in Rochester. Here, too, the keynote of his success has been the gaining of and keeping the confidence of people who buy clothing, the name of the house being a synonym for honesty and a "square deal."
Though very active and energetic in his business affairs, Mr. Barrows believes in recreation, mostly of the fresh air kind, and is interested in vigor- giving outdoor sports. He is socially inclined also, and is a member of the Genesee Valley Club, Ma- sonic Club, Punxsutawney Club, Batavia Club, Rochester Yacht Club, and in the Masonic order
is a member of Valley lodge, Hamilton chapter, Monroe commandery, Knights Templar, and No- bles of the Mystic Shrine.
Howard A. Barrows married Miss Anna Ridley. Their children are Alice Ridley, William Peters, Mary Alexander, Elizabeth, and John Barrows. Their home life is characterized by the strongest attachments, each for the others, and a broad spirit of comradeship peculiar to homes guided by a man whose whole life has exemplified the attributes of justice, tolerance and kindliness.
Mr. Barrows has done more than the usual amount of hard thinking. To every problem of life he has applied energy, common sense and thought. He believes that any young man who is fairly endowed with natural intelligence and who has sufficient ambition to stimulate his action and his thought, can achieve success. His own suc- cess as a merchant is the result of patient trying and applying the lessons of each year to the work of the next, along with which has gone the erection of a substantial structure of character, so that when he surveys the past he finds few regrets. On the other hand, while he enjoys rationally the ma- terial comforts of life, the most enduring reward of his work as a business man he considers to be the respect and esteem of his fellowmen, the real, honest personal friendship and confidence of those with whom he has come in contact.
WILLIAM A. E. DRESCHER.
William A. E. Drescher, assistant treasurer and director of the Bausch & Lomb Optical Company of Rochester, was born at Neutomischel, in the province of Posen, Germany, November 8, 1861. His parents were Theodore and Helena Drescher, nee Metzner. The father was engaged in the man- ufacture of metal roofings in Berlin, Germany, and later in New York city, having emigrated to the United States in 1873.
William A. E. Drescher was educated in the schools of Berlin and New York, following a gen- eral course of study which was completed by his graduation in 1876. He contemplated pursuing an engineering course, but in the interim an op- portunity offered to enter commercial life and he did so. He became an employe of the Bausch & Lomb Optical Company in their New York office, advancing through various branches of the busi- ness until in 1888 he was transferred to Rochester, New York, to assume more important duties in connection with the executive and manufacturing branches there located. At present he is assistant treasurer and one of the directors of the Bausch & Lomb Optical Company, manufacturers of op- tical instruments. The business is one of the
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
most extensive of the kind in the entire United States and Mr. Drescher's connection therewith covers almost a third of a century. He is financially interested in many local and other enterprises, including a number of manufacturing interests, and his wise judgment and keen sagacity render his counsel and co-operation valued assets in any business.
Mr. Drescher was married in Rochester, Sep- tember 23, 1900, to Miss Anna J. Bausch, and they have three children: Hilda Ardelle. Clara Louise and Theodore Bausch.
In his political views Mr. Drescher is a stal- wart republican, endorsing the principles of the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. His recognition of individual re- sponsibility in his relation to his fellowmen has been indicated by his able services as director of the City Hospital and by his connection with the Children's Playground League, of which he is still a director, while at one time he was its presi- dent. He is interested in the great economic and sociological questions affecting the race at large as is evidenced by his membership in the American Playground Association and the American Civil Service Reform Association. Nor is he less in- terested in scientific subjects, belonging to the American Association for the Advancement of Science and to the American Microscopical Soci- ety. He is also connected with the National Asso- ciation of Credit Men, while his social nature is indicated by his membership in the Genesee Val- ley Club. the Rochester Club, and the Country Club of Rochester.
ANDREW LINCOLN.
Among the early promoters of Monroe county's industrial and commercial activity was Andrew Lincoln and the value of his service is recognized by all who know aught of the history of this sec- tion of the state. He arrived in the county in 1816 when it was largely an unsettled district, covered in places with the native forest growth and giving little indication of the changes which were soon to transform it into a thickly populated and prosperous region. He was one of the native sons of New England, born at Eastham, Barnsta- ble county, Massachusetts, September 27, 1784. His father, Josiah Lincoln, of Cape Cod, was de- scended from one of three brothers of the name who. emigrated from England to America between the years 1633 and 1637. His educational privi- leges were limited. but when not occupied with the work that devolved upon him in his youth he em- braced his opportunities of acquiring such knowl- edge as was imparted in the schools of the district.
He had no difficulty in gaining a thorough knowl- edge of the value of money, for from an early age he was dependent upon his own resources. With five dollars in his pocket, when fourteen years of age, he left home and learned the trade of a car- penter and joiner.
The year 1816 witnessed the arrival of Mr. Lincoln in Perinton, Monroe county, where he followed carpentering one season, working also in Henrietta, Brighton and other localities. In 1818 he took up his abode upon a farm in Perinton near the village of Penfield, which is now the home of his son, Josiah K. Lincoln. His attention was given to agricultural pursuits, but he divided his time with other business interests, and at his death was the owner of one of the most valuable mill properties in the coun- ty, in addition to three hundred and fifty acres of land. In 1821 he became a partner of Samuel Rich and built the first merchant grist- mill and the third mill of any kind in the town. It was the first mill on Irondequoit creek, where he also built the dam. He had in his employ four millers, beside a number of salesmen on the road, and his product was sold in New York and Boston. His first mill pond embraced about twenty-five acres, and about 1836 he purchased his partner's interest, and for many years did the most of the milling business for miles around. In 1847 he built a new dam and a stone mill and doubled the area of the mill pond. The business was success- fully conducted by Mr. Lincoln up to the time of his death, which occurred November 26, 1866. Mr. Lincoln was one of the most prominent busi- ness men of this section of the state in his day, identified with various commercial and industrial enterprises. His business extended into remote sections of the country. In addition to his flour- mill he also conducted a sawmill and tannery, carrying on the former for about thirty-five years, and he likewise engaged in merchandising in Pen- field. He owned the canal boat that he used in shipping large quantities of flour to Albany, New York and elsewhere. His tannery became an im- portant productive industry, equal in extent to any similar enterprise of western New York. The mercantile business was conducted under the firm style of Harvey & Lincoln and in the conduct of all these interests Mr. Lincoln displayed keen discernment, marked business sagacity and un- wearied industry.
On the 31st of January, 1827, Andrew Lincoln was married to Miss Sarah A. Kennedy, a dauglı- ter of Jacob Kennedy. She was born in Sher- burne, New York, in 1801, and in early girlhood accompanied her parents to Brighton. Following her marriage she was a resident of Perinton up to the time of her death in 1883. She was well trained in the duties of the household such as
ANDREW LINCOLN.
MRS. ANDREW LINCOLN.
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
were common in those days. She could take flax or wool in the rough and card, spin, weave and make it into all kinds of wearing apparel. She was one of the first members of the Baptist church at the Upper Corners prior to its removal to the village of Penfield in 1839, and throughout her life maintained an active interest in Sabbath school work. Andrew Kennedy, her grandfather, was a sea captain and following his marriage to Amy Wentworth established his home in Milton near Boston. His wife traced her ancestry to the titled Wentworth family of England, descended from Reginald Wentworth, who flourished in 1066. Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln became parents of three sons and three daughters: Harriet, the wife of B. A. Baird, of Salt Lake City, Utah; Andrew W., Charlton U. and Josiah, all of whom became residents of Perinton; Sarah A., deceased; and Sarah A., who was the second of that name and became the wife of William Fellows, of Penfield.
In his political views Andrew Lincoln was a stalwart whig until the dissolution of the party, when he became a stanch advocate of republican principles. He was the founder of the old Pen- field Seminary and ever gave liberally and gener- ously for its support. The cause of education indeed found in him a stalwart champion and though his own opportunities were limited in youth he gained that comprehensive knowledge offered by the school of experience and acquired hv reason of an observing eye and retentive mem- ory as well as wide reading. His influence was always on the side of progress and Monroe county owes him much for his efforts in her behalf along lines resulting in her moral and intellectual progress.
JOSEPH ENGEL.
The name of Joseph Engel is found on the list of Rochester's honored dead whose lives may well serve as a source of encouragement and emulation to others. Moving slowly but surely in every busi- ness transaction, the youth of fifteen years who ar- rived empty-handed in the new world became the prosperous fur merchant, whose enterprise and business discernment were evidenced in his suc- cess, while his honorable methods were proven in the respect everywhere entertained for him by those with whom he had trade relations.
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