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 57
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Mr. Higgins was married April 11. 1882, to Miss Bridget SIvnes, of Oswego, New York, and they have two daughters, Alice and Emily. Mr. Higgins is a member of the Rochester Club. He has many friends in the city who admire him for his business success and for his business integrity. and his life is proof of what may be accomplished when one has determination and is not afraid of hard work.
HARLEY E. HAMIL.
Harley E. Hamil is numbered among the pro- gressive and enterprising merchants of Clarkson. where he conducts a very profitable business. He carries a full line of machinery, agricultural im- plements, buggies, harness, etc., and owns a stock valued at between fifteen and sixteen thousand
dollars, this having been acquired entirely through his own capable business management and keen foresight, for as a youth he started out in the humble capacity of a clerk in the employ of others and has steadily worked his way up until hie today occupies a leading place among the business men of this part of the state.
Mr. Hamil is a native son of Clarkson, his birth having occurred here in 1869, a son of Aaron H. and Amanda .P. (Scott) Hamil, the former born in Clarkson in 1836, while the latter was also born here in 1837. She was a daughter of Dr. Isaac Scott, a prominent physician who came to Clarkson from his native town of Wheatland and was here actively engaged in the practice of his profession throughout a long period. The mater- nal great-grandfather, Dr. Isaac Scott, Sr., came from England and settled where Scottsville now stands, the town being named in his honor. He was a surgeon in the Revolutionary war. Aaron H. Hamil was a son of Daniel H. Hamil, who came to Monroe county from the Mohawk valley, the family having originated in Holland. He was engaged in farming northeast of Clarkson and became one of the most substantial citizens of this section of Monroe county. He was a republican in his political views and was an honored veteran of the Civil war, having become a member of Com- pany A, One Hundred and Fortieth New York Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for three years and sixteen days. He was in Captain Stark's division under command of Colonel Rourk, who was killed in battle. Mr. Hamil was three times wounded and participated in some of the most important engagements in the Civil war, in- cluding the battle of the Wilderness, in which he was wounded. and the battle of Gettysburg. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Aaron H. Hamil were seven children: Eddie, who lives in Geneva, Ohio : Clarence, a resident of Chicago; Harley E., of this review : Walter and William, who are in the employ of their brother Harlev at Clarkson; Bertrand, who is manager for the Remington Typewriter Company of New York for the state of Michigan, with headquarters at Detroit; and Charles S., in Genoa, Indiana. Both the parents are now deccased, the mother having passed away in 1884, at the comparatively early age of forty- seven years, while the father passed away in Au- gust, 1904, when he had reached the age of sixty- eight years. The paternal uncle of our subject, William HTamil, who was never married, owned the old Hamil homestead and recently died, leav- ing an estate of fifty thousand dollars.
Harley E. Hamil was reared in his native place and received his early education in the schools of this place, while his more advanced studies were pursued in Brockport Normal. He remained un- der the parental roof until a youth of eighteen vears, when he began life on his own account by
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entering the employ of Martin & Minot, who were engaged in the hardware business in Brockport. He began business in the capacity of a clerk and remained with the above mentioned firm for five years, during which time he gained a knowledge of the business, which later proved of value to him when he engaged in business for himself. Fol- lowing the period of his clerkship he accepted a position with George Worthington as traveling salesman, but later resigned that position to en- gage in business for himself at Hamlin, where he was located for about three years. Returning once more to Clarkson, he here purchased an old build- ing and opened a store, carrying machinery, farm implements, buggies, harness, etc. From the be- ginning the enterprise has been successful, owing to the well directed labors of Mr. Hamil, his cap- able management and his business ability. The business has enjoyed a steady growth and his original building proving too small for his stock of goods, Mr. Hamil erected a large frame build- ing, in which he is now located, here carrying a full line of the above mentioned articles, his stock being valued at between fifteen and sixteen thou- sand dollars. Although he began without any capital whatever, he is now numbered among the prominent business men of this city and the suc- cess which he is now enjoying is well merited for it has been won through the most honorable and trustworthy methods.
Mr. Hamil was married to Miss Jessie Hickson, who was born in Clarkson, in 1874, a daughter of Fred R. Hickson, the efficient postmaster of this city, the office being located next door to Mr. Hamil's store. Mr. Hickson owns the building next door to the postoffice, this being used as a wagon shop and erected by Bludgett & Readman about 1838 or 1840. By her marriage, Mrs. Hamil has become the mother of three interesting daugh- ters. Isabel, Louise and Doris Valentine, and a son. Richard Harley, born May 14, 1907.
Mr. Hamil gives his political support to the re- publican party and has taken a deep and helpful interest in local political affairs, his fellow towns- men having called him to a number of positions of honor and trust. For five years he has served as town clerk, while in 1903 he was elected super- visor. being re-elected in 1905. He belongs to Monroe lodge, A. F. & A. M., to Daniel Holmes chapter. No. 194, R. A. M., and also to Monroe lodge. I. O. O. F. He likewise affiliates with Lalla Rookh Grotto, the Rochester Whist Club and the Masonic Club, in all of which he is popular. He is a member of the Tilsby Hose Company and is now serving as a trustee of the Presbyterian church, in which his wife holds membership.
Few men occupy a more prominent place in business and social circles than does Mr. Hamil. for he has exerted a wide influence in the city of his nativity, where in business life he has been the
promoter of an extensive commercial enterprise, while in social circles he is prominent by reason of his courteous manner and charming personality.
STEPHEN D. BURRITT.
Stephen D. Burritt was born in Parma, New York, in 1860, where the old homestead was lo- cated, and is a direct descendent of Elihu Burritt, "the learned blacksmith" and writer whose name was at one time an inspiration to thousands of Americans. His parents, Giles and Harriet (Wilder) Burritt, left Parma, New York, in com- pany with twenty-five families who made their way to Missouri and became the first settlers in that state. One of their daughters married a large slaveholder of the neighborhood. At this time the subject of our sketch was only a baby, so that he acquired his early education in the schools of Missouri. The circumstances of the family made it necessary for him to abandon his studies at the age of ten years and to strike out for himself. He accordingly came to Rochester in 18:1 and, having acquired the fundamental prin- ciples of farming while assisting his father, he naturally followed that pursuit. He returned to Parma and spent two years working upon farms in the vicinity of his birthplace and then went to Rochester. where he secured employment with Williams & Hoyt at fifty cents a week. So well did he perform every duty assigned to him that in two years he was made foreman of the concern. Bv thrift and frugality he had saved four hundred dollars and decided to go into business for him- self. He opened a barber shop, which he conducted for six months. when he sold out to good advant- age and entered into partnership with Ira Day in the whip trimming business, in which he con- tinned for seven years.
On selling out that business, Mr. Burritt went to Toronto. Canada. where for three years he was auctioneer in the jewelry business. But Rochester was still his home and the city to which he re- turned. Here he started his present jewelry store with a five hundred dollar stock. He has pros- pered from vear to year until now he enjoys a large trade in the city, but conducts a still larger mail order business, for which he issues one of the largest and most complete jewelry catalogues pub- lished. His business has passed through the era of two panics undisturbed, owing to the reliabil- ity of the man at its head.
Mr. Burritt's wife hore the maiden name of Emma Horton and to them has been born one daughter. He is a firm believer in the advantages of membershin in fraternal organizations and ac- cordingly holds a prominent place in the follow- ing societies : the Masonic lodge, in which he has
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
attained the thirty-second degree and is a Shriner ; the Elks, the uniformed rank of Knights of Pythias ; the Odd Fellows; the Improved Order of Red Men: and the Maccabees. In religion he gives his loyal support to the Baptist church.
JOHN ALEXANDER PAUL WALTER.
John Alexander Paul Walter was born in 1846 in Sectbach-on-the-Main, in the electorate of Hes- sia, and when nine years of age came to this coun- try with his parents in the year 1855. After a short residence in the city of New York they moved to Rochester, where he has since resided. He was educated in the parochial school of Zion's Evangelical Lutheran church, public schools Nos. 9 and 16 and Bryant & Stratton Business Col- lege in the former Baker block.
In 1862 he enlisted in Company H, One Hun- dred and Fifth Regiment of New York Volun- teers, as a musician, being then sixteen years of age. He served with his regiment until the spring of 1863, when, by reason of depletion of ranks, the regiment was consolidated with the Ninety- fourth New York and he was assigned to Company G, commanded by Captain John McMahon. Mr. Walter re-enlisted June 4, 1864, at Mitchell Sta- tion, Virginia, and was present in one capacity or another, in all the battles and skirmishes of his regiment from Cedar Mountain to Appomattox. The regiment was successively a part of Mc- Dowell's First and Fifth Corps at Cold Harbor. He was detailed to the commissary department and later promoted to the non-commissioned staff as commissary sergeant of the regiment. He was discharged at Albany, New York, August 30, 1865, and returned to Rochester and worked at the sheet metal trade until 1872, when he started in busi- ness for himself in the stove, furnace and hard- ware business. After an honorable record of thirty-four years he disposed of his business to his oldest son, Albert H., who still continues the same.
In 1869 Mr. Walter married Emma M. T. Weniger, of this city, who died in 1900. In 1905 he married Elizabeth L. Boyd, of Bellevue, a suburb of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. There are now living, hy his first marriage, six children: Albert H., Charles E .. Emma C., John J. L., Emil F. and Anna E. Walter. One son, John A. P., Jr., died in 1874.
On his return from the war Mr. Walter affil- iated with the republican party and has since taken a prominent part in all of its campaigns. He was elected supervisor of the old thirteenth ward in 1829, 1880 and 1881, when he retired. In 1891 the common council elected him fire marshal, in
which office he has served to the present time, and is at present chief of the bureau of buildings and combustibles.
Mr. Walter is a member and has held office in a number of military and civic organizations, past and present, as follows: Adjutant of First Light Artillery; captain of Fifty-fourth Regiment; lieutenant colonel and rifle inspector of the Sev- enth Division National Guard, State of New York ; commander of Peisner post, G. A. R .; commander of Veteran Brigade G. A. R .; Rochester lodge, No. 660, F. & A. M .; Ionic chapter, No. 210, R. A. M .; Monroe commandery, No. 12, K. T .; Roches- ter consistory; a charter and life member of the Masonic Club; Rochester Chamber of Commerce; Rochester Engineering Society; Rochester City lodge; Knights of Pythias, No. 212; Wahoo Tribe of Red Men, No. 228; and new Empire tent, No. 194, of Maccabees.
JOHN HENRY SCHOENHEIT.
John Henry Schoenheit, the junior partner of the firm of F. H. Rapp & Company, general build- ing contractors of Rochester, was born in Newark, New Jersey, October 19, 1869, his parents being Henry Ferdinand and Elizabeth Schoenheit, the former a cabinet-maker by trade. The parents were both natives of Germany and their last days were spent in Rochester, where the mother died in 1906 and the father in 1907.
The removal of the family from New Jersey to New York enabled J. H. Schoenheit to pursue his early education in the public schools of Elmira. He afterward attended the academy of Penn Yan, and when the family came to Rochester he con- tinued his education in No. 14 public school and afterward in No. 4. He put aside his text-books in 1880 and entered business life as errand boy in the old Ninety-nine Cent Store in the Powers Block. He afterward secured a position in Run- del's art gallery, where he remained until the spring of 1882, when he began learning the cabi- net-maker's trade at the plant of the J. E. Hayden Company on Exchange street. In 1887 he began working at the carpenter's trade and was employed by different parties until the spring of 1890. when he began business on his own account. In the fall of 1892, however, he hegan working for F. H. Rapp, his present partner, as foreman, continuing in that position for more than ten years, or until the 1st of January, 1903, when they entered into a partnership under the firm name of F. H. Rapp & Company. They have since conducted a general contracting business in the building trade and have a liberal patronage which is bringing them a de- sirable financial reward.
JOHN A. P. WALTER.
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
On the 12th of November, 1890, Mr. Schoenheit was married in the Plymouth Avenue Baptist church to'Miss Marion Turner, of Rochester, and unto them have been born five sons and one daugh- ter: H. Clarke, William T., Alfred V., Milton J., Charles F., and Marion Anna. In his fraternal relations Mr. Schoenheit is connected with Yon- nondio lodge, No. 163, A. F. & A. M., with Court Plymouth of the Foresters of America, and Girard Commandery, Knights of Malta. He also belongs to the Rochester Automobile Club, an asosciation which indicates the manner in which he takes much of his recreation, he being an enthusiast on the subject of the motor power. He was reared in the Baptist church, of which his parents were members, and has always adhered to that faith. Being now numbered among the successful men of Rochester, he deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, as his personal position is due to his own labors and the excellent use to which he has put his talents, both natural and acquired.
STEPHEN TICE.
Stephen Tice was born in 1829 in Cayuga, New York. He was educated in the common schools of that vicinity but at a very early age took an un- usual interest in business. In the boyish trade of ยท marbles he displayed traits of enterprise and of business methods, so that we are not surprised to find that he left school at an early age and entered into business. He was only eleven when he moved to Rochester, and it is interesting to see how he got his start and how step by step he progressed until he reached the position he had been seeking. When only fourteen he bought one sheep, disposed of it at a profit and bought another. In this way he laid up a small capital, so that he succeeded a little later in establishing a market of his own. In the same manner that he had worked up to this point he continued and by this method enlarged his business until he was at the time of his death not only the oldest butcher in Rochester, but en- joyed the most extensive trade, owning different markets located in various parts of the city. He passed away in 1905.
His wife, who bore the maiden name of Cather- ine M. Babcock, was born in 1829 and died in 1902. To their union were born two sons and one daughter. Mr. Tice was an active republican and an influential member of the Presbyterian church. He was in every sense of the word a self-made man who by industry, thrift and sterling character was able to accomplish the hope with which he set out.
His daughter. Jennie Tice. who was born April 2. 1858. was educated in the public schools. . She was married on March 16. 1907. to Charles S.
Harris, a native of Orleans county, New York, born May 8, 1853. He removed to Rochester in 1898, and engaged in contracting and building. By his energy and his square dealing he has worked his way upward to a prominent position and is destined to be one of the first contractors of the city.
SMITH SHELDON.
Smith Sheldon owns and controls an extensive and prosperous business in the manufacture of show cases and store fixtures at the corner of Alleu and Platt streets in Rochester. He is a native of this city, born April 23, 1869. His paternal grandfather, Smith Sheldon, was a native of the state of New York and founded the publishing business of Sheldon & Company, spending the greater part of his life in New York city. He was much interested in educational matters and left the impress of his individuality for good upon the intellectual development and progress of the state. He was one of the founders of Vassar College and of Hamilton College and was one of the early trustees of the University of Rochester. He was also actively interested in the work of the revi- sion of the bible and his influence was ever on the side of intellectual and moral progress, where- by humanity is uplifted. He was seventy years of age at the time of his death, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Ann Eslick, lived to be more than eighty years of age.
They had a family of four children who reached mature years, including Alexander E. Sheldon, who was born in this state. He married Delia Farley, also a native of New York and a daughter of Joseph Farley, a native of Maine, who came to Rochester when a young man and spent his re- maining days here. He was engaged in the nurs- ery business in early life, later in the manufacture of show cases and subsequently was connected with the Eureka Foundry Company. He died at the age of seventy-four years and his wife, Mrs. Laura (Porter) Farley, was well advanced in vears at the time of her demise. They had four children, including Mrs. Sheldon. For many years Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Sheldon lived in Brooklyn, where Mr. Sheldon was a member of the firm of Sheldon & Company. publishers of school books. He served as a soldier of the Civil war, belonging first to the Seventh Regiment of New York Infantry, while later he joined the regular army. He was with the Army of the Potomac and participated in many important hattles. being an acting captain and receiving the brevet of colonel. In politics he was an independent republican. He died in 1891 at the age of fifty years. Mrs. Sheldon is still a resident of Brooklyn.
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
Smith Sheldon spent much of his boyhood and youth in that city and attended the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute. In 1887 he was a student in the University of Rochester, with which his grandfather had been connected as a trustee many years before. On leaving college he secured em- ployment in the Rochester Show Case Works owned by Farley & Hofman and is now the sole proprietor of that establishment. The show cases and store fixtures which he manufactures are sold throughout the states of New York, Pennsylvania and New England, and employment is furnished to about forty people.
On the 25th of October, 1898, Mr. Sheldon was married to Miss Julia Harris, a daughter of Joseph and Sarah ( Mathews) Harris. They have one daughter, Sarah Mathews Sheldon. The parents attend the Third Presbyterian church and their home is pleasantly situated on what is known as Moreton Farm on the Buffalo road, about seven miles west of the city of Rochester.
MYRON ADAMS.
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The life of Myron Adams, "sweet, pure and nohle," left its impress indelibly not only on the lives of those with whom he came in contact but upon the trend of modern thought. Many through his efforts have been brought into a clear- er understanding not of creed, of dogma, of su- perstition or religion, but of Christianity. Gifted with wonderful mental power, he was a close fol- lower of Him who came not to be ministered unto but to minister. For almost twenty years he occupied the pulpit of the Plymouth church in Rochester. Although his life span covered little more than a half century he lived to see the teach- ings which in his early ministry awakened strong opposition, in his later life endorsed by many who had formerly opposed him. He took no pride in this aside from the fact that the world was draw- ing nearer to the truth and was accepting the spiritual revelations of the gospel without attempt- ing to establish the historicity or to accept with credence the traditional or the figurative.
Myron Adams, the youngest son of Myron and Sarah (Taylor) Adams, was born at East Bloom- field. New York, March 12, 1841. Following the completion of a preparatory course in Waterloo Academy he matriculated in Hamilton College as a member of the class of 1863. Less than two years after the beginning of the war he put aside his text-hooks to espouse the Union cause, enlisting with many other students of Hamilton in 1862 as a member of the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth New York Infantry, which was immediately or- dered to the front. Sometime later he was pro-
moted to the rank of lieutenant in the signal corps of the regular army and served upon the staff of General Canby at New Orleans. In 1864 he joined Farragut and was at the famous battle of Mobile Bay, acting as signal officer on board the Lackawanna. In May, 1865, he was the bearer of dispatches to the war department conveying the news of the surrender of the last Confederate troops east of the Mississippi river. He was of- fered the rank of major but refused it. Mere "honors" had no attraction for him. He believed in the worth of the man and public recognition, as such, possessed no valne for him. After his death he was honored by his old army comrades and the following was published at that time: "A new Grand Army post is to be instituted in this city tomorrow evening to he called the 'Mvron Adams Mounted Post, No. 640.' It is doubtless known to all our readers that all Grand Army posts are named after dead comrades. No living soldier is thus honored. It is especially appropriate that now the name should be chosen of that dear citizen of Rochester whom we freshly mourn, whose young life was consecrated to his country, and whose whole career was dedicated to the truth, as it was given him to see the truth. The new post honors itself in honoring the name of one so noble, so lovely, and of such crystalline purity of soul as was Myron Adams."
When the war was over Mr. Adams became a student in the theological seminary at Auburn, New York, and while there formed the acquaint- ance of Hester R., the daughter of Professor S. M. Hopkins, whom he married. One son was the fruit of this marriage, Samuel Hopkins Adams, who is now well known as a writer and journalist. He entered upon his pastoral work at the Union Springs (New York) Presbyterian church in 1868, and a year later accepted a call to the Dunkirk Presbyterian church, where he re- mained until he became pastor of the Plymouth Congregational church of Rochester in 1876. He continued to fill this pulpit through- out his remaining days and became a force- ful factor in the life of the city, albeit one of the most modest, unassuming and retiring of men. His influence, however, will remain as a moving force in the lives of men long after the great builders of commercial and industrial en- terprises, the promoters of great schemes of trade and profit will have been forgotten.
Mr. Adams was what the world has been pleased to term an independent thinker. When his judg- ment, resulting from close and earnest study, found fallacy in any teaching or doctrine, he re- nounced it and in unmistakable terms. When he came to accept the verity of any vital idea he pro- claimed it. From the beginning of his pastorate he attracted attention and from the first displayed what the conservative term eccentricities of theo-
MYRON ADAMS.
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
logical opinion. In the Presbyterian church of Dunkirk he was observed as an independent and vigorous thinker, always rewarding the attention of his hearers by his forceful, original way of putting things. From the beginning of his minis- try, he was a student, a searcher for truth; and when his investigation brought to him some doubts concerning the doctrines of the presbytery he con- tinued his studies and though it brought down upon him the criticism of brethren whom he dear- ly loved in the Presbyterian church, he fearlessly proclaimed his views. He was steadily growing into a dislike of ecclesiasticism and rigid ortho- doxy. He felt more and more hampered as a Pres- byterian and it was with a feeling of relief that he received and accepted the call from the Ply- mouth Congregational church of Rochester.
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