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 42
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Mr. Engel was a native of Germany, horn at Frankfort-on-the-Main, February 26, 1842. He acquired a high-school education and learned to speak German, French and English. He lost his father when quite young and at the age of fifteen years he came alone to America, landing at New York city, where he remained until he came to
Rochester. He learned the trade of a furrier in New York and became foreman and superinten- dent of the fur department of a well known house of the metropolis. Later he entered business on his own account.
In 1878 Mr. Engel came to Rochester in the interest of R. S. Kenyon & Company, with whom he remained for about a year, after which he en- gaged in business for himself, establishing a store at No. 89 East Main street, where ne continued up to the time of his death, on the 17th of Feb- ruary, 1897. In manner he was quiet and unas- suming, entirely free from ostentation and display, and in business transactions he was conservative, forming his plans carefully, studying closely every move or innovation, and thus arriving at a con- clusion that made his judgment rarely, if ever, at fault. He was prompt in meeting obligations and his business policy was such as commended him to the confidence and respect of his business contem- poraries, associates and patrons.
Mr. Engel was a member of Christ Episcopal church, contributing generously toward the erec- tion of the new church edifice on East avenue, and gave liberally to charity, his life proving that be- nevolence, humanitarianism, honesty and pros- perity are not antagonistic forces but mav be brought into most harmonious relations.
In New York city, on the 29th of November, 1865, Mr. Engel was married to Miss Margaret Dreis, also a native of Germany, who survives her husband and now resides at No. 132 Shepard street. They were the parents of six sons and one daugh- ter: John J., Joseph F., William C., George H., Edward L., Frank Albert and Marguerite. The youngest son, Frank Albert, is now deceased. The living sons and the daughter are residents of Ro- chester save William C. and George who are living in New York city. George Engel is a graduate of the University of Rochester and of the Albany Law School and is now a successful attorney of New York city, with offices in the New York Life building. In addition to his large private practice he is counsel for the sheriff of New York county. William Engel made a specialty of the study of vocal music and has devoted his life to that art.
After the death of Joseph Engel the business which he had established and had conducted so long and successfully was continued by Mrs. Engel and her three sons, John J., Joseph F. and Ed- ward L., who had been associated with their father for many years. Four years ago the store was re- moved to its present location, at No. 67 Main street, and a hat business was added to the fur trade. This is one of the old mercantile houses of the city and throughout its existence has sus- tained an unassailable reputation for reliability as well as for the superior quality of the mer- chandise handled. In fact it is one of the leading fur houses of the state outside of New York city
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and the new department is conducted upon the same high plane.
John J. Engel, who is now the senior partner, was born in New York city, August 13, 1866, and came to Rochester with his parents in his boy- hood days, completing his education in the schools of that city. In his youth and early manhood he gave considerable attention to vocal music, pos- sessing a fine bass voice and singing in various churches and at public gatherings. His social re- lations are with Genesee Falls lodge, A. F. & A. M. He wedded Mary F. Scott, a native of this city, and they have two children.
Joseph F. Engel, born in New York city, Feb- ruary 13, 1869, has during his business career been associated with the fur trade established by his father. He is a republican and a member of several fraternal organizations. He is active in the Masonic club, of which he is a life member, and he served on the governing board at the time of locating and building the Masonic Temple. He was married September 22, 1904, to Miss Wilhel- mina Goetzman, well known in Rochester. They have one son, Joseph F., Jr.
Edward L. Engel, the third brother who is a partner in the firm, is a native son of Rochester, where he has spent his entire life. He is a stalwart advocate of the democracy and in 1905 was nomi- nated for alderman of his ward. Although not elected he succeeded in reducing his opponent's majority over six hundred. In 1906 he received his party's nomination for member of the assem- bly for the fourth legislative district of Monroe county and lacked but ten votes of election. It was a defeat that amounted almost to a victory and was proof of his personal popularity and the confidence reposed in him by his fellow townsmen, for he succeeded in reducing his opponent's pre- vious majority of seventeen hundred and fifty to ien votes. The same year Mr. Engel attended a democratic state convention at Buffalo, as a dele- gate. In 1907 he was nominated by the democratic party for city treasurer and although defeated he made a good show against his opponent, Lyman M. Otis. He is interested in all manly outdoor and athletic sports and is a member of the Roches- ter Athletic Club, Oak Hill Golf Club, the Genesee Golf Club and was chairman of the tour- nament committee, while on several different occa- sions he has won golf prizes in the state. He is a member of the board of governors of the Genesee Golf Club for a term of three years and is the first president of the Young Men's Democratic Club.
The brothers are thus well known in social cir- cles and in public life in Rochester and stand for progressive citizenship and municipal progress, while in business they are a splendid type of the successful merchant, who keeps in touch with the trend of the times and conducts his interests along
lines that will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny. Theirs is today one of the leading as well as one of the most reliable houses of Roches- ter.
CHAUNCEY G. STARKWEATHER.
Chauncey G. Starkweather, whose life work has been interwoven with much valuable public service and who is recognized as a leader of men and a molder of public opinion, was born at Burlington Flats, Otsego county, New York, on the 20th of March, 1840. His father, Chauncey G. Stark- weather, Sr., was a native of Connecticut and was a blacksmith and farmer by occupation. After coming to Brighton, New York, in 1861, he suc- cessfully engaged in the seed growing business. He died in Florida in 1894, having gone there for his health. In early manhood he wedded Miss Mary W. Bardon, of Connecticut, and to them were born two sons, Chauncey G. and Jerry. The wife and mother died in Brighton in 1880.
The bovhood and youth of our subject passed uneventfully, being largely devoted to the acquire- ment of a public-school education and to the en- joyment of the pleasures which lend zest to the life of the American youth. After leaving school he learned the patternmaker's trade in Chester county, Pennsylvania, at which he worked four years. In 1863, responding to his country's call for aid, he offered his services to the government, enlisting as a member of Company G, One Hun- dred and Twenty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He was in the service for nine months and participated in the battle of Antietam and other engagements, being once slightly wounded. He then returned to his home in Chester county, Pennsylvania, whither he had removed with his parents in 1861, and for six months he worked at the carpenter's trade. He was then in the govern- ment employ for two years as foreman on bridge building at Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 1866 Mr. Starkweather came to Monroe county, New York, and embarked in the seed growing business in Henrietta in connection with his father and brother, but four years later purchased their in- terests in the farm and carried on the business alone. At one time he owned sixty acres but has since sold ten acres to the railroad company. He has met with good success, developing a large business, which, reaching extensive proportions, has brought to him a gratifying financial reward, but he now leaves the active management of the farm to his son while he supervises affairs.
Mr. Starkweather was married in 1867 to Miss Emily Lewis, a native of Brighton and daughter of Zachariah and Elva S. (Hill) Lewis, who were
C. G. STARKWEATHER.
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
pioneers of that time. There is one son by this union, Lewis C., born July 25, 1882, and they reared a nephew, Albert J. Fish, who was left an orphan at the age of five years.
Mr. Starkweather has much of that quality which, for. want of a better term, we call personal magnetism. He is well qualified for leadership,. possessing the tact which enables him to har- monize discordant forces and to organize interests so as to produce strong results. These are the natural qualities of a leader and have made him an effective force in controlling and molding pub- lic interests. He was formerly one of the managers of the Rochester State Hospital and served as one of the committee, in 1894, having in charge the erection of the courthouse in Rochester. For nine years he filled the office of supervisor, for two years was commissioner of highways, and at the present time is an assessor, which office he has filled for four years. He is one to whom the pub- lic looks for guidance and in whom general confi- dence is placed, for in former years he has proved his worth as an individual, as a citizen and public officer. Fraternally he is a member of Valley lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Rochester.
HON. JOHN B. M. STEPHENS.
Hon. John B. Stephens, special county judge at Rochester, was born in Middletown, Orange county, New York, and is a son of Holloway W. and Maria (Mills) Stephens. both of whom were natives of Orange county, New York, the father following the occupation of farming in order to provide for his family.
In early boyhood Judge Stephens accompanied his parents on their removal to Steuben county, New York, where he attended the Cook Academy at Montour Falls until his graduation. His educa- tion was further continued in the University of Rochester, in which he matriculated in the class of 1880. He was graduated in 1884 with the de- gree of Bachelor of Arts and, having made choice of the law as a life work, he entered upon prep- aration for the bar and after thorough preliminary study was admitted to practice in the courts of New York in 1886.
Soon after entering upon the active work of his profession he was appointed special judge by Gov- crnor Theodore Roosevelt in January, 1900, and was elected in the fall of the same year. In the fall of 1903 he was re-elected for a second term and in the fall of 1906 he was elected county judge. Upon the bench he has rendered able service to the county through his thorough under- standing of the law and his correct application of its principles. He is strictly fair and impartial in his decisions, which have received the endorse-
ment of the members of the bar and of the general public. In presiding on the bench he fully sus- tains the dignity of court, discharging his duties with a sense of conscientious obligation.
Judge Stephens belongs to the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity and also the Phi Beta Kappa. He is a man of genial, social nature, whose friends are many, and he possesses a spirit of progress that is manifest in his devotion to various inter- ests which promise to prove of benefit to the city and are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride.
CHAUNCEY GARRY BROOKS.
A well improved property comprising two hun- dred acres and known as the Broad Acres farm is the home of Chauncey Garry Brooks. He is a native of Bond county, Illinois, born in 1877, a son of Lewis S. Brooks, who is mentioned in this volume. The son's education, begun in the schools of his native state, and was continued in the schools of Fairport and in Keuka College, for he was a lad of only eleven years when he left the west and took up his abode in Monroe county, New York. In 1899 Mr. Brooks' father pur- chased of Mrs. Thomas Hulbert his present farm of two hundred acres, which was known as the Marsh property. Since taking possession of the property Mr. Brooks has added many modern im- provements in the way of fences and an extensive barn, one hundred and twenty by thirty-six feet, for his time and attention are given more particu- larly to the raising and breeding of stock, in which connection he is widely known. He has a herd of registered Jersey cattle, having at the head of the herd Melia Anes, pride 63,619, a son of the great fifteen thousand dollar Jersey, Melia Anes King, No. 56.581, owned by George Perr of Chili Sta- tion. He registers all of his stock and his stock- raising interests are proving to him a gratifying source of income.
Mr. Brooks was married in 1900 to Miss Cora M. Hunt, who was born in Yates county, New York, in 1879, a daughter of William and Eva ( Hultz) Hunt, the former born in Columbia coun- tv, this state, in 1835, and the latter born in Pultney, New York, in 1855. William Hunt went to Yates county, New York, in 1845, from Colum- bia county, in company with his father, Ambrose Hunt, who died in 1883. William Hunt still re- sides on the old homestead, one of the finest homes in that county. His family numbers four children. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Brooks has been blessed with two little sons, Garry Lewis and William Hunt, aged respectively five and three years.
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The success of Mr. Brooks is well merited, for it has come to him through his own energy, labor and perseverance. Though still a young man he has already gained a creditable place among the prominent citizens and stoekmen of Monroe county,
WILLIAM DE LANCY ELLWANGER.
William D. Ellwanger is justly accorded a place among the prominent and distinguished citizens of Rochester, as he has become widely known throughout the country as an author of marked ability. He was born in this city on the 27th of September, 1855, and is a son of George and Cor- nelia (Brooks) Ellwanger. His father was a na- tive of Germany, born at Gross-Heppach in the kingdom of Wurtemberg, December 2, 1816, and was reared and educated in that country, working in his father's vineyard when not attending sehool. Later he entered a leading horticultural establish- ment at Stuttgart, where he spent four years, per- fecting himself in all the arts of horticulture and landscape gardening. Believing that the new world afforded better advantages for an ambitious young man, he came to the United States in 1835 and from New York city made his way to Tiffin, Ohio, but not meeting with the success that he anticipated in that locality he removed to Roches- ter in the spring of that year. Here he secured employment with the firm of Reynolds & Bate- ham, horticulturists, and in 1839 started in busi- ness on his own account by buying out that firm. He also purchased eight acres of land on Mt. Hope avenue and began dealing in fruit and orna- mental trees. The following year he formed a partnership with Patrick Barry, and under the firm name of Ellwanger & Barry they carried on the business for half a century or until Mr. Bar- ry's death. As the years passed Mr. Ellwanger steadily prospered and he became prominently identified with the banking business in Rochester, being a director of the Union Bank and the Flour City Bank and a trustee of the Monroe County Savings Bank and the Rochester Trust & Safe Deposit Company from their organization. He was watchful of all the details of his business and of all indieations pointing toward prosperity and his snecess was certainly well deserved, being a man of unbending integrity, unabated energy and industry that never flagged. As a citizen he was public spirited and progressive, giving his eo-op- eration to every movement which would tend to promote the moral, intellectual and material wel- fare of his adopted eity and county. In 1846 Mr. Ellwanger married Cornelia Brooks, a daughter of General Brooks, of Livingston. one of the pio-
neers of western New York, and to them were born four sons.
The boyhood and youth of William D. Ellwan- ger was devoted to the acquirement of a good edu- cation. He attended Racine College and later was a student at Yale, graduating from the latter institution in 1876. He studied law in the office of Oscar Craig, of Rochester, and was later grad- uated from the Albany Law School. After his admission to the bar in 1878 he formed a part- nership with Joseph H. Hunn in 1881 and they successfully engaged in practice until 1904, being at that time the oldest law firm of the city. Mr. Hunn was then appointed one of the trustees of the Hiram Sibley estate and the partnership was dissolved, but for eight years prior to this Mr. Ellwanger had devoted the greater part of his time and attention to literary work, contributing many able articles to various magazines and news- papers, ineluding the Century and the New York Sun. Besides this he has published several books which have won favor with the reading public and his writings embrace both prose and poetry. Among his publications are "The Colleeting of Stevensons," "Some Religions Helps to a Literary Style," "A Snuff Box Full of Trees," which ap- peared in the New York Sun and was an article on the big trees of California : "A Summer Snow- flake and Drift of Other Verse and Song," and "The Oriental Rug," a monograph on eastern rugs, earpets, etc. Besides his interest in oriental mugs, he has taken an interest in oriental porce- lains and also in gardening, following in his fath- er's footsteps in this direction, as did also his brothers, who were considered authorities on the standard rose.
On the 10th of May, 1877, in Rochester, Mr. Ellwanger was united in marriage to Miss Laura Selden, and they have one daughter, Evelyn, born June 5, 1895. The family residence is at No. 240 East avenue. Rochester. Pleasant and genial in manner, Mr. Ellwanger is quite prominent socially and is a member of the Manhattan Club of New York and the Genesee Valley Club of Rochester.
JAMES HOLLAND.
James Holland is a self-made man, possessing those sterling characteristics-industry, diligence and perseverance-which ever predominate in the Irish race. Coming to this country when a young man, he has steadily worked his way upward until he has become one of the substantial residents of his seetion of Monroe county. Born in County Down, in the north of Ireland, in 1862, he is a son of Robert and Mary Jane Holland, who were likewise natives of the north of Ireland, and the
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
father was of English descent. To them were born eight children: John, who lives in Sweden, Monroe county ; Bell, the wife of Frank Page, and a resident of Rochester; William, who follows farming in his native country; Albert G., de- ceased ; and Mary J., Elizabeth and Matthew, all residing in Ireland.
James Holland, whose name introduces this re- view, was reared and educated in his native land and when he reached manhood he possessed an ambition to see the new world and to avail him- self of the opportunities here afforded. Accordingly he took passage on a steamer bound for the United States, and upon his arrival in New York, made his way at once to Sweden, in Monroe county, where lived his brother John. He immediately sought and found employment as a farm hand, working by the month for a brief period, when, wishing that his labors might more directly benefit himself, he rented a farm of George Simes, work- ing the land on shares for three years, subsequent to which he leased the Palmer farm for four years, during which time he acquired a sum suf- ficient to justify his purchase of land, then be- coming owner of the old Peak farm, comprising fifty acres, situated two miles southwest of Brock- port, this transaction being made in the year 1899. He has added many improvements to his place in the way of good fences and buildings, including a comfortable country residence, supplied with all modern conveniences. He is successfully engaged in raising the various crops adapted to soil and climate and each year, through the sale of his products, adds materially to his financial resources.
In 1889 occurred the marriage of Mr. Holland and Miss Jennie McCreanor, who was likewise born in the north of Ireland, a daughter of Wil- liam and Rachel McCreanor, farming people of the Emerald isle. Mrs. Holland acquired her edu- cation in the schools of her native country and in 1888, when nineteen years of age, came to the new world. Landing in New York city, she there made her home until her marriage a year later, since which time she has been a resident of Mon- roe county. She is one of a family of eleven chil- dren, and with the exception of one sister, Sarah, who resides in England, and a brother, Richard, who resides in Minnesota, all continue their resi- dence in the old country.
Unto our subject and his wife have been born two sons and two daughters: Robert G., who owns a milk route and lives at home; Jennie, who is engaged in teaching school, and is a graduate of the Brockport Normal; and Jessie and John, who are attending school in Brockport.
Mr. Holland supports the men and measures of the republican party and has served as high- way commissioner. He is a Mason, holding mem- bership with the lodge at Brockport and is a com- municant of the Episcopal church. Mr. Holland
has in this country found opportunity to give scope to his energies and can well feel a pride in what he has accomplished, for when he arrived in New York he had no capital whatever and be- gan work as a farm hand, but as the years have come and gone he has acquired a good farm prop- erty and is justly classed among the honest and substantial citizens of Monroe county.
LOUIS J. ERNST.
An active business man, and popular, is Louis J. Ernst, who is president of the company con- ducting one of the leading retail hardware stores of Rochester. A native of this city, he was born on the 4th of May, 1849, to the marriage of Colonel Louis and Barbara ( Hettinger) Ernst. He attended St. Joseph's parochial school and No. 14 public school and pursued a general busi- ness course in Bryant & Stratton Business Col- lege. His father had previously established a hardware store in Rochester and on putting aside his text-books Lonis J. Ernst entered the store, where he closely applied himself to the mastery of every department of the business. In 1880 he was admitted to a partnership. In 1901 the business was incorporated with Louis J. Ernst as treasurer, and upon his father's death in 1902 he succeeded to the presidency and has so continued to this time. The company owns one of the largest retail hardware stores in the city, handling a very full line of hardware, tools, cutlery and manufacturers' supplies. Goods in this line which cannot be found in other establishments can be secured in the Ernst store and the company well merits the liberal patronage which is accorded. Mr. Ernst is also a director of the Rochester German Insur- ance Company and trustee of the Fidelity Trust Company, a trustee of the Mechanics Savings Bank and secretary and treasurer of the Hydro Press Company.
Mr. Ernst likewise belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and thus contributes to the commercial development of the city. For many years he was one of the trustees of that organization. In mili- tary circles he is not unknown for from 1875 until 188? he was a quartermaster in the New York National Guard. His political allegiance has al- ways been given to the democracy at the polls and he is a communicant of St. Joseph's Roman Catho- lic church.
On the 18th of Angust, 1880, Mr. Ernst was married to Miss Josephine Diebolt, a daughter of Anthony Diebolt, a merchant of Buffalo. They now have one son, Joseph L., a high-school pupil in Rochester. Mr. Ernst is a well known and highly respected citizen and while never seeking to
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
figure prominently in any public light has always been a liberal donor to movements for the city's good and to various charities. At the outset of his career, realizing the fact that it is the worker and not the theorist who succeeds, he applied him- self with close and assiduous attention to the duties that devolved upon him in trade relations and is today justly accounted one of the leading merchants of the city. Moreover, those traits of character which awaken kindly regard and friend- ship are his and he is very popular in Rochester. He can look back, at the age of fifty-eight, upon a life of large achievements, and look forward, secure in the honor and esteem of his fellows. -
WILLIAM J. MALONEY.
William J. Maloney is one of the younger mem- bers of the Rochester bar but has already won favorable comment and his laudable ambition, combined with native and acquired ability, proni- ises well for the future. He was born in the town of Rush, this county, on the 27th of February, 1877, his parents being Timothy and Mary (Ley- den) Maloney, both of whom were natives of Irc- land, having come to this country about forty years ago, at which time they settled in Monroe county, where Mr. Maloney has since become a successful farmer and leading citizen. He owns a large and productive tract of land in the town of Rush. He is prominent and influential in community affairs and has held office in the town a number of times, being twice elected highway commissioner. He was also trustee of his school district a number of terms and has sat on the board of inspectors of election for a number of years. At a recent election he was a candidate for the office of justice of the peace.
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