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 53
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89
JOHN CONNORS.
John Connors is one of Rochester's native sons, born on the 20th of January, 1862, his parents being Thomas and Mary Connors, people of worth, yet plain and unostentatious and without special prominence in social or business circles. He has three brothers, William ; the Rev. Thomas F. Con- nors, rector of the Roman Catholic church of the Blessed Sacrament; and Richard C. There were also six sisters, Catherine, Josephine, Margaret, Jeanette, Alice, and Mrs. Mary Hanna, who died in March, 1907.
John Connors was educated in the parochial and private schools of this city. He had no college or university course, but the school of experience has
JOHN CONNORS.
1157
HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
given him a training which has gained him rank among the strong and reliable business men of the city. He left school at the age of sixteen and in October, 1878, secured employment with the firm of Howe & Rogers, dealers in carpetings. His close application, his willingness to make his free- dom from all traits of indolence or idleness, and his laudable ambition gained the attention of those whom he served and led to his promotion as a popular official. He gradually worked his way upward until when the company was incor- porated in 1892 he was appointed secretary-treas- urer, which position he has filled to the present time. Those at all familiar with the commercial history of Rochester know of the standing of this house in mercantile circles and the enlargement of its business and its advancement to a position of prominence is attributable in no small degree to the efforts of Mr. Connors, who seems to have a genius for doing the right thing at the right time. He is also half owner of the Union Oil Company, of Rochester.
Mr. Connors is married and has eight children, Charles P., Adelaide, Alice, Mary, Thomas L., Frances, Catherine and John. In politics Mr. Connors is a democrat where national issues are involved, but casts an independent local ballot. He belongs to no clubs or fraternal organizations and has few interests outside of his home and busi- ness. In the latter, however, he has gained a most ereditable position by reason of his own worth and diligence. He is a man of great dynamic energy, with splendid business capacity, which has been developed by persistent and concentrated ef- fort. He is genial in temperament and disposi- Lion and is popular with his business and social friends.
EDWARD A. WEBSTER.
Although two decades have passed since Ed- ward A. Webster was called from this life, he is still remembered by many of the citizens of Rochester, for in his lifetime he was promi- nent in the industrial and financial circles of this city. Mr. Wehster was a native son of this city, his birth having here occurred in 1854, a son of Edward and Polly A. (Andrews) Webster, the former born at Factory Hollow, now East Bloomfield, New York, while the latter was born in Allegany county, this state. In the paternal line he traced his ancestry back to one of the oldest families in New England, the family being established in America by John Webster, who came from England in the seventeenth century. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Uri
Webster, who was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, and was a second cousin of Noah Webster, the celebrated compiler of the dictionary. Uri Web- ster, leaving New England, removed to West Bloomfield, New York, about 1815 and conducted a woolen mill at Factory Hollow for a number of years.
Edward Webster, the father of our subject, as above stated, was born at Factory Hollow, New York, and, ambitious to acquire an education beyond that offered by the public schools, he en- tered Dartmouth College. He was there asso- ciated with a friend by the name of Hodges. Their funds were exceedingly limited but never- theless Mr. Webster managed to complete his course and was graduated, making a creditable record. The firm determination and stalwart pur- pose which he showed in thus acquiring an educa- tion was manifest by him throughout his entire life. He took up the study of law in Boston, Massachusetts, and in due course of time was admitted to the bar. He then came to Rochester on a visit and being well pleased with the city concluded to remain here. His collegiate educa- tion well qualified him for teaching and for two years he was employed as a teacher in the old public school No. 6. He then returned to Bos- ton, where he became assistant editor of a paper, of which later he was editor in chief and pre- pared the editorial upon the death of Daniel Web- ster. He subsequently returned to Rochester and was associate editor of the Morris Rural New Yorker for several years. When the Rochester Free Academy was established he became assist- ant principal and later was principal of that in- stitution for a period of six years. He then took up the active practice of law and in 1871 became the occupant of the same rooms in the Powers building now occupied by his son, Roy C. Webster. He was a man of marked strength of character, endowed by nature with strong men- tality, and he developed and utilized his talents to good advantage, making a creditable name in journalistic, educational and legal circles.
Edward A. Webster was reared in this city and acquired his education in the public and high schools. Upon entering business life he was employed in the Commercial Bank of this city. where he remained for a time. and later entered the Union Bank as discount clerk, where he was employed for several years, or until 1881. On the expiration of that period he became connected with the Moseley & Motley Milling Company, one of the pioneer milling companies of this city. Mr. Webster was connected therewith for six years, or until his death, which occurred in 1887, as the result of the explosion which destroyed several mills on Brown's race. He was promi- nent among the business men of Rochester, being closely identified with some of its most important
1158
HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
financial and industrial interests. He also co- operated with every movement which tended to advance the welfare of his city or county and was one of the first members of the Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Webster was married in 1881 to Miss Addie M. Motley, a daughter of George Motley, who came to Rochester in 1857 and established the Moseley & Motley Milling Company.
Edward A. Webster was from his boyhood a member of the Brick church, which he entered during the pastorate of the late James B. Shaw, D. D. In politics he was a stanch republican. He has a brother, Roy C. Webster, who is a prominent attorney of this city, with offices in the Powers Block, and he is also mentioned on another page of this work. No man was ever more respected or more fully enjoyed the con- fidence of the people or more richly deserved the esteem in which he was held. Honorable in busi- ness, loval in citizenship, true to every trust confided to his care, his life was a high type of Christian manhood.
MAJOR GEORGE J. OAKS.
The business career of Major Oaks is such as to entitle him to mention with the representative citizens of Rochester, where until recently he was conducting a wholesale millinery and fancy goods business as the senior partner of the firm of Oaks & Calhoun. It is not alone his commercial promi- nence, however, that entitles him to mention in this volume, for he is credited with a splendid military record and he is prominently known in military circles throughout the state.
Major Oaks, one of Rochester's native sons, was born on the 9th of February, 1842, his parents being George and Mary Ann (Pronguey) Oaks, who were natives of Germany and of France re- spectively, the latter being a daughter of Jean Pierre Pronguey, who came from France in May, 1823, and was one of the first settlers of Rochester. He did garden farming here, owning and culti- vating a tract of land near Irondequoit. He lived to he seventy-nine years of age and was very active up to the time of his death. Ere leaving his na- tive country he rendered military service and was in the battle of Waterloo. His wife, Mrs. Ann Pronguey, was sixty-two years of age at the time of her demise and they had five children, all of whom lived to a good old age.
George Oaks, the father of Major Oaks, was a builder of Germany and came to America in 1839. settling in Rochester, where he was con- nected with building operations for some years. He afterward devoted many years to the business
of building railroad passenger cars. His wife died in 1878, when fifty-seven years of age, and Mr. Oaks afterward removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he made his home with his son Francis un- til his death on the 21st of July, 1895, when in his eighty-third year. Both he and his wife were communicants of the Roman Catholic church. Their family numbered eight children, six sons and two daughters, of whom four are now living: George J., of this review; Francis A., for many years a teacher in the public schools of Cincin- nati ; Dr. John F. Oaks, of Dubuque, Iowa, who is a celebrated physician ; and Albert A., a jeweler and watchmaker of Cincinnati.
Major George J. Oaks was reared in his native city and supplemented his preliminary education, acquired in the public and parochial schools, by study in St. Charles College, near Baltimore, Maryland. He afterward gave his attention to merchandising until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he joined the army as a member of Company G, Thirteenth New York Volunteer In- fantry. He served with that regiment until the following September, when he was transferred to Company K, of the Third New York Cavalry. Before the war he had belonged to the Fifty-fourth Regiment of the State Militia and therefore mili- tary tactics were not nnknown to him. He joined the army as a private and on the 9th of September, 1862, he was commissioned a second lieutenant of Company E, One Hundred and Fifty-first New York Volunteer Infantry. Later he was promoted to first lieutenant of Company D, of the same regiment, on the 22d of October, and on the 1st day of July, 1864, was promoted to the rank of captain, thus serving until the close of the war. He was aid-de-camp on the staff of General Wil- liam H. Morris, the First Brigade of the Third Division of the Sixth Army Corps, from Feb- ruary until July, 1864. He participated in the first battle of Bull Run, was all through the Wil- derness campaign, and was under fire in the en- gagement at Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Peters- burg, Winchester, Cedar Creek, and many others. over thirty in all. He was present at the fall of Petersburg and was in the last battle of the war, at Sailor's Creek, on the 6th of April, 1865, where Lee's rear guard was captured. As aid-de-camp in the Third Division, Major-General James B. Ricketts commanding, he was appointed ord- nance officer of the division, and on the 22d of October, 1864, he saved the ordnance train of the Sixth Army Corps from capture by his timely preparations when the Union troops were sur- prised by Early's army about dawn. In the latter part of March, 1865, he was granted a leave of absence of twenty days and made his way to Washington. On the following day the battle of Five Forks was fought and Mr. Oaks went to the war department to make inquiries concerning it.
GEORGE J. OAKS.
1161
HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
He was informed that if he went at once to the front he would be there in time to hear the death knell of the rebels. So he hastened immediately for the front, reaching his regiment about six o'clock on the afternoon of the 1st of April. That night the regiment was marched to support the picket line, where they lay on their arms all night, and about three o'clock in the morning the corps was massed in columns to make the assault on Fort Fisher, which was then held by the rebels, but which the Union troops captured in the first attack, thus dividing Lee's army into two parts. Major Oaks here assumed the responsibility of taking some volunteers and dividing some rebels from the regiments left, and because of this splen- did military movement he was brevetted for gal- lant and distinguished service. He was with the army night and day, running down the rebels, until the last battle was fought on the 6th of April, followed by the final surrender of Appo- mattox on the 9th of April. His military experi- ence was an arduous one, but he never faltered in the performance of any duty for the defense of the old flag and the cause it represented, and when the war was over he returned home and quietly took up the pursuits of civil life.
When he had again come to Rochester Major Oaks entered the employ of S. Rosenblatt & Com- pany in the millinery and fancy goods business and remained with that house through successive promotions until he purchased the business, which he continued as a wholesale and retail establish- ment under the firm name of Oaks & Calhoun un- til May 27. 1907, when the place was destroyed by fire. Employment was given to about sixty peo- ple and the business constantly grew, being classed with the leading mercantile enterprises of the city.
On the 28th of February, 1878, Major Oaks was united in marriage to Miss M. Louise E. Col- vin, a daughter of Dr. Darwin Colvin, of Clyde, Wayne county, New York, one of the prominent physicians of the city. Mrs. Oaks is a member of the Episcopal church. Major Oaks belongs to Genesee Falls lodge, No. 507, A. F. & A. M., and has attained the thirty-second degree in Scot- tish Rite Masonry. He is also a member of Mon- roe commandery, No. 12, K. T., and Damascus Temple, No. 2, of the Mystic Shrine. Moreover. he has been prominently connected for many years with leading military organizations. He is now a member of the New York commandery of the Loyal Legion, is associate member of the United States Military Institute, is junior vice com- mander of George H. Thomas post, No. 4, G. A. R., past department commander of New York and past commander-in-chief of the Union Veterans' Union, with the title of general. These offices always came to him unsought. He never asked for official preferment, but his capability and per-
sonal worth led to his selection for high honors of this character. He has been an active, valued and prominent member of various church and Masonic choirs for many years and for the past forty-six years has been prominently known as a member of the Rochester Maennerchor. He has likewise been commander for the Chamber of Commerce of Rochester and has always stood for public progress and improvement. While he has never been a public man in political life he has long been prominent in military circles and there is one point in his career, covering forty years' connection with the business life of Rochester, to which all old settlers refer, and that is that whether as a merchant, as a citizen or a soldier he has always been the same genial, courteous gentleman, fully meriting the good will which is so uniformly extended to him.
EDWARD A. COMSTOCK.
Edward A. Comstock, of Rochester, was born amid the picturesque region of the Berkshire hills of Massachusetts, his natal day being December 20, 1863. His father, Sanford W. Comstock, also a native of the old Bay state and now living in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, ·has been engaged in the lumber business for forty years. The mother, Mrs. Louisa (McCoy) Comstock, also a native of Massachusetts, died thirty years ago. Of their family of five children, four are yet living.
In the public schools of his native town, Ed- ward A. Comstock pursued his education to the age of twelve years, when he started out in busi- ness life. He has since depended upon his own resources, having joined his father in the conduct of a lumber enterprise in Massachusetts, in which he continued until nineteen years ago, when he came to Rochester. He has always been connected with the lumber trade, having for some years been in this line of business with G. W. Crouch and afterward with C. T. Crouch. Six years ago he established business on his own account and is now dealing exclusively in lumber, with yards lo- cated on East Main street, on both sides of Rail- road street and extending to Fourth street. George A. Babcock was admitted to a partnership under the firm style of E. A. Comstock & Company and they controlled a business of most satisfactory pro- portions, but Mr. Babcock is now out of the firm and the business is conducted by E. A. Comstock under his own name. Few men have more expert knowledge concerning Inmber than Mr. Comstock. who for almost a third of a century has been a representative of the trade, constantly studying the business, so that he is splendidlv qualified to determine the value of lumber. He has also care-
1162
HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
fully watched the markets in order to make ju- dicious purchases and his reliability and enterprise have been the factors in winning him success. The firm now employs twenty men and sells to many of the leading contractors of the city and state.
About eighteen years ago Mr. Comstock was married to Miss Ennie E. Knowles of Massachu- setts, and they reside at No. 1538 Main street, East, where Mr. Comstock has erected a pleasant residence. He is an Odd Fellow and is a man of excellent physique and fine personal appearance. who has largely extended the circle of his friend- ship through hoth business and social relations.
FLORIAN A. HETTIG.
Florian A. Hettig is of German origin and comes from a most interesting line of ancestry. His great-grandfather, Joseph Hettig, was a mem- her of Napoleon's old guard who served in all of the great general's important campaigns, was with him in Italy and in his famous retreat from Moscow. He kept a diary of all the battles and experiences in which he took part and this inter- esting book is now in the possession of the gentle- man who is the subject of this review. Our sub- ject's father was Florian Hettig. who served in the German Revolution of 1848 and whose wife was Rosina (Roth) Ilettig.
Mr. IIettig was born in Germany and came to this country with his parents in 1853, when he was only five years old. The year following he entered St. Joseph's school in Rochester and con- tinned his studies until the year 1860, when he began to learn the tailor's trade, a business which he is still following. He worked for many firms before starting for himself and with so much ex- perience behind him le has been able to build up a first-class trade, giving satisfaction to all his customers. In 1865 he became imbued with the idea that he must take part in the war of the Rebellion and with four other Rochester boys he ran away from home and joined the navy. His father, however, succeeded in finding him in Erie, Pennsylvania, and obtained his discharge because he was under age. Disappointed, but not discour- aged, he came home and joined Battery A.
In 1868 he married Elizabeth Haug. To their union have been born four sons and four dangh- ters. an interesting family and one which has brought much happiness to Mr. and Mrs. Hettig. The subject of this sketch is the keeper of the record and seal of the Knights of Pythias. Blecker lodge, uniformed rank, and is a member of several other organizations. He is a man of whom the most envious can scarcely grudge success, so well
has he earned it and so admirably does he use it. He is kind, unaffected and approachable, and every comer has a claim upon his courteous attention. There has been nothing sensational in his career and every advance has been at the cost of hard and self-denying labor.
HOBART FORD ATKINSON.
Hobart Ford Atkinson, the dean of Rochester bankers, has been a life long resident of his native city, and since early youth, a conspicuous figure in the financial, charitable and social life of the community. The son of William and Elizabeth Ford Atkinson, he came of fine New England stock and was born October 5, 1825, in a two-story frame house which stood about five hundred feet east of St. Paul street, on the north side of Main street.
Fortified by the best education which the schools of those early days afforded, Mr. Atkinson began his business career when he was fifteen years old by serving about a year as clerk in the gro- cery store of Shepard Garbutt which was located on Exchange street where the Mechanics Savings Bank now stands. In 1843 he began what proved to be his life work by accepting a clerkship in the old Commercial Bank, of which Asa Sprague was president, Everard Peck, vice president and George R. Clark, cashier. Charles Hubbell, father of Walter Hubbell, was teller, and upon his resig- nation was succeeded by Mr. Atkinson who later became cashier, a position he held until the bank voluntarily passed out of existence, repaying all stockholders in full for their holdings.
In 1825 a new Commercial Bank was estab- lished on the site of the old bank on Exchange street and Mr. Atkinson was elected president, resigning the position in 1891 that he might devote more attention to the Bank of Monroe, of which he was vice president. The last named institution was merged with the Alliance Bank, November 9, 1900, and Mr. Atkinson became its president, a position which he now holds, actively discharging the duties of his office. In March. 1871, Mr. Atkinson was elected trustee of the Rochester Savings Bank, the oldest savings bank in the city, and upon the death of James Brackett, March :, 1904, was chosen to succeed him as presi- dent.
In other fields Mr. Atkinson has been equally active and influential. His name heads the list of presidents of the Genesee Valley Club and for the last fifteen years he has served as president of the Church Home of the Protestant Episcopal church. He is also one of the governors of the
HOBART F. ATKINSON.
1165
HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
Homeopathic Hospital and senior warden of St. Andrew's church.
With everything that contributes to the better- ment of a city's life, both morally and materially, Mr. Atkinson has been prominently identified since early manhood, and the affection and re- spect with which he is universally regarded may be accepted as sincere evidence of the high es- timation placed upon the admirable part he has played in making Rochester's history.
ARTHUR BESEMER, M. D.
Dr. Arthur Besemer owns and occupies a beau- tiful modern residence ou Lincoln road, Despatch, this being erected by him in 1906, the same year in which he became identified with the medical profession of this place. He has, however, al- ready gained a prominent place in the practice of medicine and surgery in Despatch and the surrounding districts, for his skill and proficiency have been demonstrated and this combined with a social and genial nature commends him to the confidence and good will of the public.
Dr. Besemer represents one of the old and prominent pioneer settlers of Tompkins county, New York, his paternal grandfather, John Bese- mer, having settled on a farm there in a very early day. His son, John J. Besemer, who be- came the father of our subject, was born in Tomp- kins county, where he followed farming through- out his entire active business career and his death occurred in that county in 1902. His wife bore the maiden name of Nellie C. Eignor, who was also born in Tompkins county and became the mother of three children: Arthur, of this review ; John; and Mrs. Erma Bull, who resides on the old homestead farm in Tompkins county.
.
Dr. Besemer received his education in the public schools of Tompkins, his native county, com- pleting the high school course at Ithaca. Choos- ing the profession of medicine and surgery as a life work. to this end he matriculated in Cleve- land Medical College, from which he was gradu- ated in 1892. He later pursued post graduate work in New York and located for practice in Dundee. New York, where for twelve years he successfully prosecuted his labors as a medical practitioner. Seeking a broader field of labor, however, in 1906 he removed to Despatch. where he has since been engaged in practice. He has here an office, which is well equipped with all modern and electrical appliances necessary for the practice of medicine and surgery and his services are in constant demand. for his ability and skill have become widely known.
In 1888 Dr. Besemer was united in marriage to Miss Elva Paine, who was likewise a native of Tompkins county, New York, a daughter of Franklin Paine, an early settler of that county. Their marriage was blessed with one son, Merle Besemer, who is now a high-school student at Fairport. In 1906 the Doctor erected a nine- room residence in Despatch, this being supplied with all modern conveniences and accessories necessary for the comfort of its inmates and one of its most attractive features is its pleasant hos- pitality. His wife died July 29, 1907.
The Doctor gives his political support to the republican party and his religious faith is indi- cated by his membership in the Presbyterian church. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Despatch, of which order he has served as past grand master and he is also a member of the Foresters, while in the line of his profession he is identified with the Southern Tier Medical Society. of which he acted as president for two years, and the Homeopathic Society. For five years he served as coroner of Yates county and during his residence in Dundee served as health officer.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.