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 49
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Homeopathic societies and the Monroe County Hahnemannian Society. He does all the surgical work for the institution and has attained a high degree of proficiency in this line.
On the 14th of June, 1905, Dr. Graham was married to Miss Louise MI. Williams, of Rochester, a daughter of Frank E. Williams. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, including the blue lodge, chapter and commandery. Personally he is char- acterized by uniform courtesy, a kindly spirit and a ready sympathy, and these qualities have made him popular socially as well as professionally, but the demands of a constantly growing practice leave him little time for the social side of life.
LEWIS SUNDERLIN.
In a history of Rochester's business interests it is imperative that mention be made of Lewis Sunderlin, undoubtedly the oldest jeweler, not only in years but also in the length of his con- nection with the jewelry trade in Rochester. He has passed the eightieth milestone on life's jour- ney and yet is the active president of the Sunder- lin Company, found each day at his place of busi- ness. The people of the city are to be congratu- lated upon a character of such splendid devel- opment as is manifest in the public and private life in Mr. Sunderlin. In spirit and interests he seems yet in his prime, and upon the occasion of a recent celebration of the eightieth anniversary of his birth seemed to possess the vigor of many a man of much younger years.
Mr. Sunderlin was born in Barrington, Yates county, New York, on the 3d day of July, 1827, and was but six years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Tyrone, this state. At that time he began his education in the com- mon schools, where he continued his studies for several years thereafter. When about twelve years of age he became interested in the subject and methods of repairing clocks through association with a man of the neighborhood, who did a small business in that line. Outside of school hours his time was largely spent in the shop and when fif- teen years of age his reputation as a repairer of timepieces was such that his father was persuaded to purchase him an outfit and he went about the country in the capacity of a clock repairer. With a horse and wagon he drove through the neigh- borhood, charging from fifty to seventy-five cents for each clock. In his reminiscences of those early days he said that he remembered one old eight day clock which seemed to present to him insurmount- able difficulties, some one else having broken the vital part. This he finally repaired, however, and
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was paid two dollars for the job. The incident occurred in 1842. About a year ago-sixty-one years afterward-the son of the owner was in Rochester and said that this elock was still run- ning.
It was difficult to find good instruction in the line of clock and jewelry repairing in those days, as they who were familiar with the business could not always impart their knowledge to others, but Mr. Sunderlin's natural predilection seemed to trend in that direction and in 1846 he eagerly embraced the opportunity to enter the employ of L. O. Dunning, a jeweler of Penn Yan, New York. There as an apprentice his duties included the sweeping of the floor, building the wood fires in the large box stove, trimming and filling the whale oil lamps and putting up and taking down each night and morning the heavy wooden blinds on the windows and doors. There were no burglar proof safes in the stores those days and an ap- prentice was also required to sleep in the store to frighten away all possible intruders. Mr. Sun- derlin was paid a small sum for his work and he eagerly embraced the opportunity of aequainting himself with jewelry repairing. His first real job, of which he was very proud, was making a eylinder for a broken watch.
After a short time spent at the Dunning store, Mr. Sunderlin went to New York, carrying with him a letter of introduction to Charles E. Jacot, who advised him to take lessons with the famous English watch and chronometer maker of that time, whose place of business was at that time at No. 52 John street. Mr. Sunderlin still has in his possession a Swiss jeweler's lathe, purchased for him by his English tutor. In 1850, return- ing to Penn Yan, he became a partner of his former employer, Mr. Dunning, and this con- nection was continued until his removal to Roch- ester in 1864, when he purchased with Mr. Weaver the Burr interest in a jewelry store, which had been established in 1834 by A. C. Burr, who died of cholera in 1835 and was succeeded by A. J. Burr, who died in 1838. The next owner was C. A. Burr, who formed a partnership with John T. Fox and Charles Webb in 1852. Twelve years later C. A. Burr died and in that year, 1864, the firm of Sunderlin & Weaver was formed and pur- chased the Burr interests in the business, which was then conducted in the old Burns block, where the Ellwood building now stands, at the corner of State and Main streets. The next change in partnership made the firm of Sunderlin & Me- Allaster in 1869, succeeded bv L. Sunderlin & Company in 1879. On the 13th of April, 1900, the business was incorporated as The Sunderlin Company. Mr. Sunderlin's sons becoming associ- ated with him in the conduet of this enterprise, which is now one of the leading mercantile inter- ests of the city. They own an extensive jewelry
establishment, carrying a large and carefully se- lected line of goods of the finest character as well as those of medium prices and enjoying a large patronage. Mr. Sunderlin is an active member of the company, despite his years, and each day is found at his place of business, where as president of the company he superintends its various inter- ests.
In 1852 Mr. Sunderlin was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Sunderland, and their children are as follows: Helen L., now the wife of George E. Peer, of Charlotte; Charles E .; and Howard I.
On the occasion of his eightieth birthday his sons, Charles E. and Howard I. Sunderlin, ten- dered a banquet to the Rochester Jewelers' Asso- ciation. It was a notable event in commercial cireles and one long to be remembered. The em- ployes of the store on that occasion presented to the president a bouquet of eighty roses, while the jewelers of the city made him a gift of a fine seventy-five dollar leather chair, as a token of their good will and esteem. As a business man his record is such as any one might be proud to possess. He has never made engagements that he has not filled nor incurred obligations that he has not met. On the contrary, his business record has won for him the admiration of business con- temporaries and the entire respect of his associ- ates. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, a mem- ber of Lawrence lodge, No. 797, A. F. & A. M .; Hamilton chapter, No. 62, R. A. M .; and Monroe commandery. No. 12. K. T .; and for seventeen years he has been a trustee of the Baptist church.
JOHN S. RAUBER.
John S. Rauber, president of the firm of John Rauber & Company, wholesale liquor dealers, was born in Rochester, May 19, 1879, and is a son of John Rauber, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. He was educated in the parochial schools and when seventeen years of age he lost his father, and the entire charge of the large business, which had been established by his unele, Peter F. Raub- er, and his father, John Rauber, devolved upon him. He has since continued at the head of the concern and his brother, Henry P. Rauber, is as- sociated with him in business. The business was left in most satisfactory condition by the former proprietors and the present owners aseribe their unusual snecess in the past decade to this faet and give much credit to those to whom credit justly belongs. John S. Rauber was given the power of attorney when twenty years of age and there is perhaps no one of his years in the United .States at the head of so important a wine and
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liquor house. One who knew him well said of him, "John S. Rauber, with his powerful consti- tution and ability, has a great future before him. He can give advice as sound and valuable as the oldest and ablest men in the business, His aims are very high and anything small or mean he detests. He is original, and the system so notice- able in the business, and which has been so preg- nant with results, is the result of his ability, many dollars thus being saved. He could be entrusted with a great responsibility. In finance, I consider him in his line of business with no superior at his age." Under his management the business has been developed and increased and the sales are now very extensive.
Mr. Rauber is a member of the Rochester Whist Club and the Rochester Club. He also belongs to the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks. He is one of the most expert gentleman drivers in the Flower City and this affords him a source of needed recreation and relaxation from the cares of an extensive business.
On the 19th of June, 1906, Mr. Rauber was married to Miss Anna A. Lynch, a daughter of Mrs. Catherine Lynch, and on the 4th of July, 1907, a daughter was born-Eunice Catherine.
A. G. WHIPPLE.
A. G. Whipple, a wealthy citizen of Brockport. is now living retired, but for a long period was actively connected with business interests both in New York and in Australia, where he acquired the competence that now enables him to spend the remainder of his life in well earned ease. He was born at Springfield, Massachusetts, May 5, 1856. His father, Wellington G. Whipple, was born at West Lynn, Massachusetts. He was en- gaged in the manufacture of the old musket caps, furnishing about two-thirds of the caps used in the Civil war. He also manufactured whip pleat- ing machines and invented the first machine for that work. His plant was located at 62 Hudson street, New York, on a part of the old Higgins estate. He met his death by an explosion in the factory when he was only thirty-seven years of age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Martha Munroe, was a native of Lynn, Massa- chusetts, and departed this life in 1884, at the age of fifty-two years.
A. G. Whipple is the younger of the two sons born of his father's marriage, the other. Frank L .. being now deceased. He accompanied his parents on their removal from the old Bay state to New York city, where he acquired a good education. He remained under the parental roof until he at- tained his majority. when he went to western
Texas and engaged in milling and cotton ginning, following those pursuits with success from 1876 until 1884. On the expiration of that period he once more returned to New York city, and secured the agency for the Rand Drill Company of that place, his territory covering Australia. Going to that country, he readily recognized the possibili- ties for work in his line and accordingly bought the agency for Australia, with offices at Melbourne. He is a man of excellent business ability and keen foresight and easily adapts himself to ex- isting conditions, so that the opportunities which were there afforded gave him ample scope for the exercise of his energies, whereby he met with rapid and well merited success, this being gained through the most honorable and straightforward methods. He remained in Australia for several years, or until 1900, when he once more returned to New York, having disposed of his business in- terests in the former place. Upon his arrival in the east he purchased a farm at Brockport, which was known as the Upland farm, but after retain- ing possession of the property for two years he disposed of it and took up his residence in this city, where he occupies a nice home supplied with all modern conveniences and accessories which enhance the comfort of the inmates, and here he is living retired from all business pur- suits, having gained the capital in former years that now supplies him with all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
It was during his sojourn in Australia that Mr. Whipple met the lady whom he afterward made his wife. She was born in Canada and bore the maiden name of Mary L. McCloud. By her mar- riage she has become the mother of three children, Vera Tasma, Helen and Stella, all still under the parental roof.
Mr. Whipple's study of the political issues and questions of the day has led him to give his sup- port to the republican party. He attends the services of and supports the Presbyterian church, while fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to the blue lodge and chapter. Geniality is one of his marked characteristics and in the community where he resides he is popular in social circles.
EDWARD J. CARY.
Edward J. Cary, engaged in the produce busi- ness and to some extent in breeding fast horses at Fairport, his native village, was born on the 25th of January, 1865, of the marriage of Thomas and Mary ( Lovey) Cary. His father as a young man came from Ireland to the new world and for thirty years was engaged in shoemaking in Fair- port. He died in 1887 and for twenty years was
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
survived by his wife, who passed away on the 12th of October, 1907, at the age of sixty-eight years.
In the public schools of Fairport Edward J. Cary acquired his education, and at the age of fifteen started out in the business world as an employe in a grocery store, where he remained for five years. At that time he acquainted him- self with modern business methods and by careful expenditure acquired the capital that enabled him to engage in the cigar and confectionery business. He continued in the trade for two years, at the end of which time a disastrous fire occurred and he lost everything. Having to begin business life anew, he rented the Osburn House at Fairport and was so successful that at the end of a year he was enabled to purchase the property. Later he bought the Fairport Hotel at Fairport and managed both hostelries, which prospered under his direction, bringing him a good financial return. He was certainly well qualified for hotel manage- ment and made these properties a valuable invest- ment. In 1907, retiring from hotel life, he sold the Osburn House and rented the Fairport. He is now engaged in the produce business and also gives some time to the breeding of fast horses, of which he owns four very fine representatives of the track. In all of his business he has displayed an aptitude for successful management, combined with keen discernment and unwearied industry, and therefore deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, working his way upward from a humble financial position to one of affluence. He has recently bought the old D. B. Deland homestead, and also Deland Park, comprising twelve acres, which the city of Fairport is contem- plating buying in order to utilize it as a public park. This property is very valuable and Mr. Cary could make a handsome profit by turning it into building lots, but being a most public spir- ited man, it is more than likely that he will turn it over to the village for its actual value.
In 1895 was celebrated the marriage of Edward J. Cary and Miss Margaret Keating, daughter of a farming family, well known in Victor. She died in 1898, leaving one son, F. Arthur, now eleven years of age. Mr. Cary is an active, prominent and helpful member of the Catholic church. He is called "the boss" of the democratic party in his home town, but the term does not imply here any mismanagement or misrule in municipal affairs. It simply indicates his leadership, which has come to him in recognition of his devotion to the gen- eral good and his interest in the welfare and suc- cess of the party, and throughout the community he is highly esteemed by democrats and repub- licans alike. Four times he has been a delegate to the state conventions and has been a member of the democratic county committee for eight years. With limited educational advantages in youth,
he has attained an enviable position in social, po- litical and business circles and is today numbered among Fairport's honored residents.
JOHN B. MEISCH.
John B. Meisch, a resident of Barnard and su- perintendent of the Holy Sepulchre cemetery, was born in Rochester on the 21st of February, 1866. His father, Pierre Meisch, was a native of Alsace- Lorraine, born on the 14th of February, 1831. He married Catherine Rausch, who was born in Lux- emburg, Germany, March 10, 1830, and died Sep- tember 16, 1907. In her early girlhood she lost her parents, and after coming to the United States she gave her hand in marriage in Rochester to Pierre Meisch, by whom she had nine children, five of whom are now living. The father, while still a resident of France, served his time as a gardener on the royal estates of Napoleon III. Leaving his native land for the new world, he made his way to Rochester and entered the em- ploy of the firm of Ryan & Dempsey, nurserymen, with whom he remained for sixteen years. He be- came recognized as a man of marked ability in the line of his chosen calling. He it was who orig- inated and filled the first hanging basket in Roch- ester and he made the first flat bouquet. In 1870 he was appointed the first superintendent of the Holy Sepulchre cemetery, which position he filled until his death.
John B. Meisch was four years old when the family removed to his present place of residence in 1870, his father having been appointed super- intendent of the Holy Sepulchre cemetery. He was educated in the parochial schools in Roches- ter and pursued two courses of study in Taylor's Business College. After completing his education he became his father's assistant at the cemetery, and they made all of the plans for laying out and beautifying the grounds. They also employed all of the help and had charge of the greenhouses. In fact, the beautiful appearance of the cemetery today is due to the efforts of Mr. Meisch and his father.
The former remained his father's assistant until 1889, when he removed to Charlotte, where he re- sided until the 14th of January, 1897. The father died on that date and the son was then appointed his successor, as superintendent of the Holy Sepul- chre cemetery, in which position he has now served for ten years. As stated, he had previously been his father's assistant, with the exception of one vear, while he was deputy collector at Port Char- lotte under George H. Houck. His long exper- ience as forest and landscape gardener makes him splendidly qualified for his present position, and
JOHN B. MEISCH.
PIERRE MEISCH.
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the value of his work is indicated in the beautiful city of the dead, which has been adorned through the work of his hands and under his guidance.
In 1889 Mr. Meisch was united in marriage to Miss Mary O'Connor, a native of Rochester and a daughter of Cornelius O'Connor. She died Au- gust 28, 1900, leaving one son, Pierre C., and on the 4th of September, 1901, Mr. Meisch wedded Miss Margaret Lincoln, a native of Boston, a daughter of George H. Lincoln and a relative of the great Abraham Lincoln.
Mr. Meisch is a democrat in politics and active in the work of the party, but has not been a poli- tician in the sense of office seeking, preferring to give undivided attention to his business duties. He has now been connected with the cemetery for more than two-thirds of a century save for a brief interval, and he deserves much credit for what he has accomplished in adding to its loveliness and well-kept appearance.
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JOHN W. KENNEDY.
Many volumes and countless articles have been written about success and the best method of achieving it, but after all the theorizing in which one may indulge, we must inevitably reach the conclusion that success lies in the individual, in his patience, unabating diligence and his will- ingness to apply himself to the work in hand to the exclusion of every other consideration. We believe all of this is found in the life of John W. Kennedy, proprietor of the Household Art Rooms, of Rochester. In this connection he has built up an extensive and profitable business as an interior decorator and dealer in art wares and furnishings for the home. One of Monroe coun- ty's native sons, he was born June 12, 1866, and has spent the greater part of his life here, where he has built up an enterprise of gratifying pro- portions.
His father, John Kennedy, was a native of the north of Ireland, and on emigrating to the new world settled in Monroe county upon a farm in Penfield with his father, who was devoting his life to agricultural pursuits. John Kennedy was but six years of age at the time of the removal. He became an active man in the affairs of his dis- trict, serving as school director and in various other offices of honor and trust. He married Rachel Orr, a native of Scotland, who is living with her son in Rochester. The father died in 1903. They were the parents of four sons and daughters, of whom three are yet living.
John W. Kennedy acquired his primary educa- tion in the district schools of Penfield and further prepared. for the active and responsible duties of
life by a course in the Rochester Business Univer- sity, which he completed in his twentieth year. He then returned to the home farm, where he worked in the fields for a time, but later estab- lished a general mercantile store in Wayne county, New York, which he successfully conducted for five years. He then came to Rochester and for the past six years has been proprietor of the Household Art Rooms, purchasing an interest in the business, which had been previously established by F. H. Lattimore, his present partner, and which has a large patronage from among the best people of the city. As one of the owners of this business, Mr. Kennedy not only carries a large line of art ware and decorative furnishings, but also takes contracts for the complete decoration and furnishing of the home, in which occupation he does most beautiful work, evidence thereof be- ing seen in some of the most palatial homes in Rochester. The stock includes draperies, tapes- tries, furnishings and general art goods, and it is a pleasure to inspect the art rooms, which are filled with costly and rare furnishings brought from all parts of the world. The location is at No. 43 East avenue, near Main street, where they have spacious quarters for the best display of their goods.
In 1893 Mr. Kennedy was married to Miss Clara A. Braithwaite, a daughter of William T. Braithwaite, of Wayne county, and they have one son, John Wellington, now four years of age. The family home is at No. 143 Barrington street. Mr. Kennedy belongs to Yonnondio lodge, No. 163, A. F. & A. M. Possessing the force of char- acter that has enabled him to overcome difficulties and obstacles which ever confront the individual who enters business life, readily recognizing and utilizing opportunities, John W. Kennedy has made a success of the business of which he became head six years ago, and is now classed with the representative merchants of the city.
WILLIAM EDWARD DUGAN.
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William Edward Dugan, president of the Dugan & Hudson Company of Rochester, his native city, was born on North street in 1859, his parents be- ino John C. and Helen Dugan, but the latter died when her son, William E., was but three years of age. The father, coming to Rochester at an early day, engaged in the retail clothing business here up to the time of the flood in 1865. He afterward entered into the wholesale clothing business as designer in Rochester and Chicago, but retired four years prior to his death, which occurred in 1892, when he was seventy-one years of age.
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William E. Dugan was educated in the Chris- tian Brothers school, in St. Joseph's College of Buffalo, and in Rochester Business Institute, and thus by liberal training was well qualified for a responsible business career. Seeking employment when about seventeen years of age, he entered the shoe house of P. Cox & Brother in 1876 and continued there, gaining an excellent knowledge of the business, until 1881, when with the capital he had acquired through his own labor he began business on his own account as a member of the firm of Byrnes, Dugan & Hudson. This relation was maintained for fourteen years or until 1895, when Mr. Byrnes withdrew and the firm of Dugan & Hudson continued as such until 1902, when the business was incorporated under the firm style of the Dugan & Hudson Company.
The factory is located in a new modern build- ing at the corner of Fitzhue and Allen streets. The company manufactures high grade boys' and girls' shoes, selling only to the fine trade of large cities, and three hundred and fifty people are em- ployed. An excellent business is conducted, the firm contributing to Rochester's splendid reputa- tion as a center for the manufacture of shoes.
Mr. Dugan married Miss Mary A. Brownell, a sister of Frank A. Brownell, of Rochester. She . in business at the age of eighteen years and re- was born in Canada and came to this city when a maiden of twelve summers. There are five sons and one daughter. Mr. Dugan gives his political support to the republican party. He belongs to Corpus Christi church, and is a popular and val- ued member of several fraternal and social or- ganizations, including the Knights of Columbus, the Genesee Valley club, the Rochester Country and the Rochester Athletic clubs. He has always been fond of athletics and outdoor sports, utiliz- ing his time in their enjoyment when he finds leisure from the onerous duties of a constantly in- creasing business.
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