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 51
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Mr. Sheehan was married in Brighton, in 1893, the lady of his choice being Miss Maggie Duffy, a daughter of Frank Duffy, who settled here at an early day. By her marriage she has become the mother of two daughters and one son, namely: Marguerite, thirteen years old ; Irene, eleven years of age; and John M., two years old. The parents have spent their entire lives in Brighton and therefore have many warm friends, while the en- terprising and progressive spirit of Mr. Sheehan has made him a typical American in every sense of the word. By constant exertion and good busi- ness judgment he has attained to a prominent po- sition and commands the respect of all who know him.
JAMES PAMMENTER.
James Pammenter is an alert and enterpris- ing farmer of this county, owning and operating a farm of ten acres of rich garden land in Iron- dequoit. He was a son of Joseph and Eliza (Sar- gent) Pammenter, both natives of England, and was born June. 3, 1860, in Irondequoit. The father, Joseph Pammenter, set sail for America in 1849. He commenced his life in this county as a day laborer in Riga, building stone walls and clearing the land, and by strict economy and careful management he at length succeeded in buying a small home. He passed away in 1881, but is still survived by his widow. Unto this worthy couple were born twelve children.
James Pammenter was united in marriage to Jennie Heffor, who was born in September, 1861, and their home has been blessed with three chil-
dren: Arthur T., who was born September 4, 1886; Mattie M., May 1, 1891; and Elmer James, August 4, 1894. Arthur is attending the Uni- versity of Rochester and will graduate in 1908; Mattie is in the East high school at Rochester ; and Elmer is attending the Union school at Iron- dequoit. It will be seen that though the educa- tional advantages of James Pammenter and his wife were limited, they appreciate fully the value of such training and are determined that their children shall have what they have missed in this direction.
Mr. Pammenter's home farm is well stocked with thrifty fruit trees. He has erected a large glass house, which enables him to grow the early vegetables, and a fine dwelling, a large barn, a vegetable house and has everything to facilitate the work upon his farm and procure the best re- turns in his business. He has worked his way upward step by step to his present position, has added every improvement which makes his home so attractive today and has done this within a very short period. When he bought this place he had only enough money to make a very small pay- ment, but has by his hard work, his good habits and his untiring industry succeeded in paying for the place and bringing it to its present im- proved condition. His political affiliation has always been with the republican party. He be- longs to the Maccabees, the Woodmen and the Grange and is a member of the North Avenue Methodist church.
JEREMIAH G. HICKEY.
The growth of Rochester has brought about constantIv enlarging business opportunities and among those who have taken advantage of the conditions of business life here to their own bene- fit and the good of the city as well is numbered Jeremiah G. Hickey, now the president of the Hickev & Freeman Company, manufacturers of and wholesale dealers in clothing. The business was incorporated in 1899 and has since had a prosperous existence.
Mr. Hickey is a native son of Rochester, born November 15, 1866. His father, Jeremiah Hickey, Sr .. was a native of Ireland and when a boy came to the United States, making his home in Roch- ester from 1850 until his death in 1893. He was a clothing merchant, well known in business circles of the city in the latter half of the nine- teenth century. His wife, Mrs. Margaret (Grif- fin) Hickey, is of Irish lineage and is still liv- in~ in Rochester.
In his bovhood days Jeremiah G. Hickey was a student in St. Mary's parochial school of Roch-
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
ester and at the age of twelve years he entered business life. For eight years he has been en- gaged in business on his own account and is now president of the Hickey & Freeman Company, who are conducting a large business as manufac- turers of clothing, which they sell to the whole- sale trade. Thev occupy a six-story building at Nos. 139, 141, 143, and 145 St. Paul street. Their trade has now reached mammoth proportions, ex- tending throughout the United States, and they give employment to hundreds of people, having a payroll amounting to two hundred thousand dollars annually. Their factory covers forty thou- sand square feet of floor space and is well equipped. The officers of the company are: Jeremiah G. Hickey, president ; Jacob L. Freeman, vice-presi- dent; and George A. Brayer, secretary and treas- urer. They manufacture men's clothing exclu- sively and that their products are a most market- able commodity is indicated by the fact that their trade comes from leading houses throughout the entire country.
In 1905 Mr. Hickey was married to Miss Con- stance Duffy, a daughter of Walter B. Duffy, a very prominent merchant of Rochester, and they have one son, Walter Bernard. Mr. Hickey is a member of the Cathedral and is a brother of Bishop Hickey. He belongs to the Genesee Val- ley, Oak Hill and the Union Clubs, and in exer- cising his right of franchise endorses the prin- ciples and policy of the republican party. He is a fine type of the twentieth century young busi- ness man, alert and enterprising, recognizing op- portunities and so co-ordinating his forces that the results attained have made him a foremost manufacturer and merchant of Rochester.
BENJAMIN C. HARNED.
Benjamin C. Harned, proprietor of one of Rochester's leading restaurants and extensive bak- ing establishments, was born at Merrick in the town of Hempstead, Long Island, May 3, 1848. The Harneds are descended from an old family of French Huguenots who fled from France to es- cape religious persecution, seeking refuge in Scot- land, whence Jonathan Harned, accompanied by two brothers, sailed for the new world while this country was still numbered among the colonial possessions of Great Britain. Jonathan Harned settled at Amboy, New Jersey, and became the progenitor of the American branch of the family, his two brothers dying without issue. Asher Har- ned, of the fifth generation of the descendants of Jonathan Harned and father of Benjamin C. Harned, was a strawboard manufacturer of Mer- rick, Long Island, who later removed to Johns-
town, Fulton county, New York, and at his death in 1901, when he was ninety-five years of age, was the oldest strawboard manufacturer in America. His wife, Mary Ann Chichester, was a daughter of Daniel Chichester, a miller of Patchogue, Long Island, of old Presbyterian stock of New England and of English descent.
Benjamin C. Harned obtained his education in the public schools of Merrick and of Johnstown, New York, and at the age of fourteen years took up the study of telegraphy, at which he worked in Johnstown until twenty years of age. He then removed to New York city, continuing as an operator until 1869. In that year he became a resident of New Haven, Connecticut, where he became connected with the baking business. La- ter he removed to Hartford, coming thence to Rochester in 1883, since which time he has been engaged in the restaurant and bakery business, beginning operations here in the Powers Hotel block. There he was located for fifteen years, at the end of which time he removed to his present location at No. 157 East Main street. For nine years he has been at this place, conducting a large baking establishment and a high class restaurant. His is the oldest existing firm in this business in Rochester. He has been in this line continuously for thirty-eight years and has maintained a place of leadership in the trade.
On the 18th of November, 1873, Mr. Harned was united in marriage to Miss Harriett S. Ferry, a daughter of Philander Ferry, a baker of New Haven, Connecticut, and formerly of Danbury, Connecticut, where his ancestors had settled prior to the Revolutionary war. Mr. and Mrs. Harned had three sons and four daughters, of whom three are now deceased. Those living are: Nellie, the wife of Paul Weaver, of Rochester; Harriett, the wife of Benjamin B. Bates, formerly of Rochester but now of Boston; Percy, an architect of this city ; and Grace, at home.
Mr. Harned is independent in politics and has never cared for public or club life, preferring to spend his leisure hours outside of business with his faimly. His nature is social, his manner pleas- ant, frank and genial, and he is highly esteemed by his business associates and all with whom he comes in contact.
HENRY WILLIAM O'NEILL.
Among the strong and successful business en- terprises of Rochester is numbered that conducted under the name of the James Reynolds Company. Henry William O'Neill, as vice president of this company, is controlling a successful trade in steam fitting and plumbing, the patronage annually in-
B. C. HARNED.
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
creasing. They find their best advertisement and recommendation in their own work, which has given uniform satisfaction and led to a constant increase of trade.
Mr. O'Neill was born at Greece, Monroe county, June 10, 1872, and is a son of James and Jessie Elizabeth (Brophy) O'Neill, the former a farmer in the town of Greece. In his boyhood he was a student in the district and parochial schools of Greece and also in public school No. 13 of Roch- ester, having come to this city at the age of six- teen years with his mother, several years subse- quent to the death of the father. When his school days were ended he entered upon an apprentice- ship at the plumbing and steam fitting trade and has since been connected with that line of busi- ness as an employe and contractor. In 1895 he went to Buffalo, where he engaged in business on his own account for about a year, at the end of which time he returned to Rochester. Here he was connected with leading houses in that line until January, 1903, when he entered into partner- ship with William A. Flynn, under the firm name of Flynn & O'Neill. They carried on the business under that style for two years, when they pur- chased the business of the James Reynolds Com- pany, steam fitters and plumbers, at 25 Mill street. Since that time Mr. O'Neill has been vice presi- dent of the company and an extensive business has been developed, their work, executed under contract, being seen in many of the substantial structures of this city.
On the 17th of September, 1907, Mr. O'Neill was united in wedlock to Miss Mary Florence Fitzsimmons, a daughter of Peter Fitzsimmons, a farmer of Penfield. They are both well known in the county where their entire lives have been passed and they are members of the Immaculate Conception (Catholic) church. Fraternally Mr. O'Neill is connected with Herd No. 6 of the Soci- ety of the Moose, and is a member of the Order of Foresters; the Association of Master Plumb- ers, of which he is a director and also treasurer; and also a member of the Builders' Exchange and the Knights of Columbus. He is an enterprising business man and in his chosen field of labor has made steady progress, resulting in gratifying success.
ANDREW MAXFIELD.
There are few men whose lives are crowned with the honor and respect which was universally accorded to Andrew Maxfield, but through many years' connection with the history of Monroe county his was an unblemished character, and although two decades have passed since he was
called to his final rest, his memory is still cher- ished by many who knew him and had learned to love him for his many good qualities of heart and mind. He was a native son of the Empire state, born in Herkimer county in 1811. His parents were Barnett and Hannah (Ostrander) Maxfield. The former was born in 1789 and served in the war of 1812, where he distinguished himself as a brave and gallant soldier. Following the war the father took up land in Pittsford township, where he carried on farming until the time of his death, which occurred when he had reached an advanced age, the date of his demise being Jan- uary 20, 1866. His wife passed away August 28, 1870, when she had reached the venerable age of eighty-three years. They were numbered among the honored pioneer settlers of Monroe county, their labors proving an important element in the development and improvement which was carried on here at an early day.
On the 11th of April, 1844, Andrew Maxfield was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Powell. Her parents were Isaac and Margaret ( Matthews) Powell, who had two children. The mother was born November 1, 1789, and died August 9, 1825.
Following his marriage Andrew Maxfield took his bride to a farm which he had previously pur- chased, the tract comprising seventy-two acres, situated in Pittsford township, and this land has continued to be the home of the family to the present time. On the farm stood a primitive home, in which they lived for many years, there rearing their family of five children. Mr. Maxfield took up the work of cultivating his fields and improving his property and in the conrse of years added many modern improvements, in- cluding the erection of a nice country residence to replace the original home, which, however, is still standing on the farm. He set out many fruit and shade trees which added to the attractive appearance of the place and altogether made it a well improved farm, that stands today as a fitting monument to his life of activity, thrift and en- terprise. He carried on agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career and passed away on his farm in 1887. honored and respected bv all. He was survived for a few years by his wife. whose death occurred in 1894.
Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Maxfield four daughters and one son were born: Catharine, now the wife of Alexander W. Gardner, who is now operating the old Maxfield homestead; Har- riet Ellen, deceased; Sarah M., also deceased; Mary Jane, who resides with her sister on the old home farm; and Henry Barnett, who died at the age of two and one-half years.
Alexander W. Gardner was born April 25, 1841, in West Henrietta, New York, a son of Samuel and Almira (Tillison) Gardner, the latter a na- tive of Monroe county. New Hampshire. His
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
father came to Monroe county when a boy with his father, James Gardner, who removed here from Otsego county, this state. The father died in Henrietta, December 29, 1886. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Gardner occurred in 1874, and since the death of her father they have made their home on the farm, Mr. Gardner continuing the work of cultivation and improvement. They are highly respected people in the community where they reside and the hospitality of their pleasant home is freely accorded to their many friends and acquaintances.
Mr. and Mrs. Gardner have two daughters, Cala Jennie and Adelaide May, both at home and teach- ers in the county schools.
JAMES BRECK PERKINS.
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It is seldom that a man of letters is also recog- nized as an influence in political circles, yet as a litterateur and statesman Hon. James Breck Per- kins is widely known. Perhaps the best authority on French history in the United States, he is helping to make history in America as a member of congress for the fourth consecutive term from the thirty-second district of New York.
A native of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, born November 4, 1847, he acquired his preliminary education in the public schools of Rochester and his professional training in the University of Rochester, from which he was graduated with the class of 1867. Admitted to the bar in December, 1868, he entered upon the active practice of law in Rochester, where he has since remained as an able attorney save for the period of his residence abroad. In 1874 he was elected city attorney for a term of two years and in 1878 was again elected to that office. His practice continually increased as he demonstrated his ability to successfully solve intricate legal problems and his clientage soon became large and of a distinctively representative character.
In 1890 Mr. Perkins went abroad and through the succeeding five years was a resident of Paris, where he engaged in work on French history. Few men not of French birth have carried their re- searches so far and wide into the annals of France. In 1887 he published his first volume of French history entitled France Under Mazarin; in 1892, France Under the Regency; in 1897, France Un- der Louis XV; and in 1900 a Life of Richelieu as one of the Heroes of the Nation Series. In 1897 his alma mater conferred upon him the de- gree of Doctor of Laws and he is a member of the National Institute of Art and Letters.
Whatever else may be said of the legal frater- nity, it cannot be denied that members of the 'bar
have been more prominent actors in public affairs than any other class of the community. This is but the natural result of causes which are manifest and require no explanation. Not learned in the law alone, Mr. Perkins has studied long and care- fully the subjects that are to the statesman and the man of affairs of the greatest import-the questions of finance, political economy, sociology -- and has kept abreast of the best thinking men of the age. In fact his opinions have molded public thought and action and have left an indelible impress upon the legislative history of the state and upon congressional enactment. Returning from Paris to Rochester in 1895, he was elected in 1898 to the assembly of New York from the first district of Monroe county and was a delegate to the republican national convention in 1904. He was elected to the fifty-seventh and fifty-eighth congresses and won the election to the fifty-ninth congress in a five-sided contest. Again he was chosen as representative from the thirty-second district to the sixtieth congress. A man of letters and of broad scholarly attainments and general culture, he is nevertheless distinctively a man of affairs. A strong mentality, an invincible courage, a most determined individuality, have so entered into his makeup as to render him a natural leader of men and a director of opinion.
WILLIAM H. CHENEY.
No history of Rochester during the middle por- tion of the nineteenth century would be complete without mention made of William H. Cheney, who by reason of the extent and variety of his busi- ness activity figured prominently in industrial and financial circles, his salient characteristics be- ing such as to make him a citizen of worth and value in the community where he lived for forty- five years.
He was born in Newport, New Hampshire, March 5. 1807. He was provided with good educa- tional privileges, attending Windsor Academy in Vermont, from which institution he was graduated. On the completion of his academic course he pre- pared to enter business life and soon afterward established a general store, continuing in merchan- dising in Newport, New Hampshire, until 1836, when he removed to Albany, New York. He thus sought a broader field of labor, being prompted by laudable ambition to make the most of his op- portunities. In the capital city he embarked in the manufacture of stoves, but after two years removed to Rochester in 1838 and continued in the same line of business here. He made the first cook stove that was ever used in western New York, his foundry being situated on South St.
J. B. PERKINS.
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
Paul street. For a long period he figured as one of the most prominent factors in industrial cir- cles in this part of the state and after continuing in stove manufacture and other lines for some time he turned his attention to the production of architectural iron work, in which he continued up to the time of his death. The products of the foundry became widely known because of their excellence of design and of workmanship and the patronage increased until the business had as- sumed large proportions. His value as an active and enterprising man of sound judgment and rare discrimination was recognized and his co- operation was sought in other lines. He became the president of the Eagle Bank, now the Traders Bank, and was at the head of the institution for ten years. His son became a partner of the father in the iron business and in later years largely re- lieved him of its active management.
This son, William Cheney, removing westward to Minnesota, was engaged in the real-estate and insurance business in Minneapolis, and died in 1901. A daughter, Mrs. Caroline W. Dodd, is a resident of Rochester.
Mr. Cheney was a member of the Masonic fraternity, affiliating with Valley lodge, and was also a representative of the Odd Fellows society. He held membership in the First Presbyterian church and his interest in its work and devotion to its welfare indicated his ready and helpful sympathy with all that pertained to the moral de- velopment of the community. In 1845 he bought a home in Livingston Park, where he resided until his death, which occurred on the 22d of October, 1883, when he was seventy-six years of age. He had been a resident of Rochester for forty-five years and was one of the most prominent business men of the city during the middle por- tion of the nineteenth century. His path was never strewn with the wreck of other men's for- tunes, although he attained wealth, nor did he ever allow the accumulation of prosperity to in any way warp his kindly nature or affect him in his relations to those less fortunate than himself.
TENOR & MONTGOMERY.
While almost every kind of industrial and manufacturing irierest is represented in Roch- ester, the city is pre-eminent for its production of shoes and photographic supplies. It is in the first department of commercial activity that the firm of Venor & Montgomery are operating. The partnership of Edmund Venor and William A. Montgomery was formed on the 1st of January, 1897, at which time they began the manufacture of shoes on Lyell avenue. Later they removed
to Railroad street and about three years ago, after the destruction of their factory by fire, they came to their present location on State street. Here they are engaged in the manufacture of me- dium grade shoes for women, misses and children and with difficulty keep up with the demand, so rapid has been the growth and development of their business. They occupy seven floors of a building here, with thirty thousand square feet of floor space. Employment is given to over three hundred people and the weekly pay-roll amounts to thirty-five hundred dollars. In all their busi- ness they have been actuated by the spirit of the old adage that honesty is the best policy. They have made it a point to fill their orders promptly, to represent their goods justly and to live up to their promises, so that the house has gained a most enviable reputation.
Edmund Venor, the senior partner of the firm, is a native of England and in that country ac- quired his education. He went to Canada in 1883 and thence came to Rochester. Throughout his entire life since entering trade circles he has been connected with the shoe business, with which he is thoroughly acquainted in principle and detail.
Mr. Venor was married to Miss Amelia Rogers, of Geneva, New York, and they have four chil- dren. He has attained high rank in Masonry, be- longing to Yonnondio lodge, F. & A. M., and to Rochester consistory, in which he has taken the thirty-second degree of the Scottish rite. He also belongs to Damascus Temple of the Ancient
Arabic Order of the Mystic Shrine and his reli- gious faith is indicated by his membership in the Lake Avenue Baptist church. His life is in many respects exemplary, for he has never been neglect- ful of the higher and holier duties, while giving the greater part of his attention to the conduct of a growing and extensive business.
William A. Montgomery, who is one of Roch- ester's native sons, was born April 26, 1854. His father, Abel S. Montgomery, was a native of Ver- mont, and came to Rochester in his boyhood days. For many years he was engaged in the dyeing business and he departed his life about twelve years ago. He made a splendid military record, having loyally served his country in both the Mex- ican and Civil wars. In early manhood he wedded Hannah Smith, a native of Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, who is still living in Rochester, at the age of seventy-five years. Their son, William A. Mont- gomery, was reared in this city and attended pub- lic school No. 6 and also the high school. When a boy he began providing for his own support as an employe in a humble capacity of the Woodbury Engine Company, of which he later became secre- tarv and treasurer. He was afterward in business with W. G. Ricker, a dealer in agricultural imple- ments for three years and subsequently spent two years with C. E. Meade in the shoe business. In
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
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