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 62
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which was illustrated by his custom of shaving all the laborers who were working with him, even though he was not a barber by trade. Being an ex- pert swimmer, he used often to enjoy this amuse- ment in the Genesee river, but was one day taken with the cramps while in the water and was drowned. His widow lived for some years after this, her death occurring in 1868. There were four sons and one daughter in this family but all have passed away with the exception of the sub- ject of this review.
Richard Whalen was only seven years of age when his father was drowned. With characteristic Irish pluck the family not only managed to main- tain themselves but to get the rudiments of an education in the public schools. Richard was edu- cated in school No. 5 but at the early age of eight was obliged to go to work. It so happened that he found employment in the tobacco business in the Abe Van Slyke factory, a position he held until the year 1844. From that day to this, cover- ing a period of over seventy years, he has followed the line of business in which he first began to earn ' his living.
In 1845 Mr. Whalen began work for Henry T. Miller, with whom he remained for three years. Always looking for advancement, he found it in the firm of Warnick & Bryan, with whom he pushed steadily forward for fifteen years as fore- man in their manufacturing department. Be- ginning at the bottom, he had by this time become master of every detail of the business, so that when he returned to Rochester he took a half in- terest in the tobacco establishment of Edmund F. Woodbury. At the end of two years, Mr. Whalen's brother, Timothy, purchased Mr. Woodbury's in- terest and the firm became R. & T. Whalen. For seventeen years these brothers carried this business to very large proportions. At the end of that time, however, they divided up the enterprise and a little later Mr. Whalen re-organized the business, taking in his two sons, James L. and Richard F. Whalen. The firm now hecame known as R. Wha- len & Company and was incorporated in 1902 with Richard Whalen, president; Richard F., vice- president and superintendent ; and James L., treas- urer and secretary. They employ from twenty- five to forty hands and their goods are in great demand throughout New York and Pennsylvania. They manufacture the following brands of chew- ing tobacco: Billy Boy, Genesee, Whalen Scrap, Blue Bird, Big K, White Elk, Whalen's Long Cut, Old Kentucky, Double Head, Panama, Nickel Plate, Spanish Mixed, Corn Crib, Spot Cash and Blue Bells.
In 1853 Mr. Whalen was married to Miss Catharine Slamon, by whom he had six children, four of whom are now living: Mary Olive ; James L., deputy secretary of state; Richard F .; and William. Mr. Whalen's second wife was Lucy
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Slamon, with whom he was united in 1867 and by whom he has three children: John S., seeretary of state; Elizabeth S .; and Lewis A. Mr. Whalen has reared a large and interesting family, each member being a credit not only to the family but to the city and state in which they live. Two of his sons have become very prominent in politics.
In spite of his busy life Mr. Whalen has had time for membership in many clubs and lodges. He is a member of the Union Club, the Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent De Paul Society and the Rosary Society. While serving as chief en- gineer of the fire department he gave most efficient service. He has seen this city grow from a vil- lage to its present proportions and has given his assistance in all that contributed to its growth. His fellow townsmen respect and admire him for what he has accomplished and he well deserves representation among the leading citizens of Ro- chester. In him are embraced the characteristics of untiring energy and industry that never flags.
MAJOR ISAIAH F. FORCE.
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The life record of Major Isaiah F. Foree was a credit to Rochester, where for many years he made his home. In business circles he was honorable, in military circles courageous and valiant and in social life he manifested those gentlemanly quali- ties which always win friends, while in his home he was a devoted son, husband and father. He was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, November 14, 1833, and in early childhood was brought to Rochester by his parents, John and Altha (Farley) Force. Their family numbered six children, of whom George B. was killed in the Civil war, his death occurring on the day that Major Force left for the field with his regiment. The others are: Elizabeth Ann, the wife of George Putnam, living in Kansas City, Missouri; Mrs. Catherine Banis- ter, residing at Dubois, Pennsylvania ; Mrs. Nellie Funkhouse, whose home is in Evansville, Indiana ; Mrs. Mary Peters, who died about a year ago in New Albany, Indiana, where her husband, Frank Peters, is in control of the lumber and manufac- turing interests of our subject. The family has ever been noted for valor and indeed has a splen- did record for "fighting men," numbering among its members seven who gained distinction as sol- diers. These were : Major George Force, who lost his life in battle while serving with the One Hun- dred and Eighth New York Volunteers; Major Isaiah Foree, of this review; Captain George C. Putnam, of the Thirteenth New York Volunteers ; Lieutenant James Hutchison, of the Thirteenth New York : Thomas Wright, who served from the beginning to the end of the war as orderly sergeant
in the artillery department; Henry H., of the One Hundred and Eighth New York Infantry; and Lee Bannister, who was connected with the commissary department.
Isaiah F. Foree acquired his education in the public schools and entered business life in 1859 as a manufacturer of ax handles and truss hoops, continuing in the conduet of this enterprise until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when he left the business in charge of his father, while his wife acted as bookkeeper. Having thus arranged his private affairs he joined the army, becoming ma- jor of the One Hundred and Fortieth New York Volunteer Infantry. He had previously had some military experience, for he had been a private in the Rochester Light Guards and at the time he joined the army he wes captain thereof. On the day on which he started for the front he received word that his brother, Major George H. Force, of the One Hundred and Eighth New York Infantry, had been killed-shot through the heart. With this disheartening news he continued on his way and was in the army for about fifteen months. At the end of that time he became ill and while in Washington was told that he was not in a condi- tion to return but during his sojourn in the hospi- tal in the capital city he was commissioned lieu- tenant colonel-showing the regard in which he was held in military cireles.
When no longer able to perform active service at the front Major Force returned to Rochester and resumed business in the manufacture of ax handles and as a dealer in hard wood lumber. In the course of years he also extended his efforts to the lumber trade and was thus closely associated with industrial and commercial interests in Ro- chester. In the meantime, however, he established a new business at New Albany, Indiana, which is still controlled by his wife, his son, John W. Force, and Frank Peters. This was established in 1870 and Major Force also had business inter- ests in Detroit. In 1884 the lumber business at New Albany was damaged by floods to the extent of several thousand dollars and again high water caused considerable damage in the year 1907. Al- though at different times Mr. Force thus met with obstacles in his path to success he nevertheless persevered in the conduct of his commercial and manufacturing interests and won prosperity in their management and control.
On the 9th of June, 1859, Major Force was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Wright, who was born in the north of Ireland, and was brought to America by her father, John Wright, during her infancy, her mother, Mrs. Ann Wright, having died in Ireland. Mr. Wright came with his little daughter to Rochester, New York, where she ae- quired her education and has spent her entire life. She attended the public and high schools of this eity and engaged successfully in teaching school
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
two years prior to her marriage. In this family were five children : John W., Gertrude, Elmer E., Fred W. and George T.
In the year 1887 Major Isaiah F. Force became ill with spinal trouble, leaving him utterly help- less, but throughout all his long illness his mind was clear and he was always kind, cheerful and even jovial. He was one of nature's noblemen and few employers were ever esteemed by their work- men as was he. In fact such was their attachment for him that he never had any trouble in keeping his employes, some of whom remained in his ser- vice for more than thirty years. Fraternally he was connected with the Masons and attained the Knight Templar degree. He also held member- ship in George H. Thomas post, G. A. R., and was a member of the Universalist church. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and he took an active part in campaign work, drilling Company B of the Boys in Blue, an organization formed for campaign purposes, numbering some of the best citizens in Roch- ester. Major Force always said that he had tbe best company in the state and the boys bore him out in this statement. He delighted in their military movements and was a stalwart champion of the principles for which they stood. He won distinction in military, political and business cir- cles and stood as a high type of American citizen- ship. He rose through his own unaided efforts to a position of affluence. His life was one of in- dustry and perseverance, and the systematic busi- ness methods which he followed won him the sup- port and confidence of many. He was numbered among the prominent men of western New York and his native genius and acquired ability were the stepping stones on which he mounted.
FRANK CROSTON.
Frank Croston enjoys peculiar distinction as a prime factor in the mammoth operations in build- ing lines of the past two decades, a period marked by an entire revolution, principal features of which are the modern apartment house, which is at once a real utility and an ornament to the city and the necessary methods to regulations for its proper sanitation. He has carried out his projects with such industry that he is credited with the erection of a large number of buildings, many of which are the principal ornaments of their rc- spective neighborhood, pleasing to the eye and constructed with conscientious regard for real utility and the comfort and health of their in- mates. The crowning achievement of his work and a splendid monument to his enterprise, pro- gressive spirit and artistic skill is The Croston,
today without an equal in the modern apartment house in Rochester.
Mr. Croston was born in Mount Morris, New York, on the 15th of November, 1851, his parents being Frank and Evis (Levis) Croston, both of whom were natives of Croston, Lanca- shire, England, a town which was named in honor of the family-one of the old and prominent families of that part of the "merrie isle." A repie- sentative of the family served in parliament and was governor of Cheshire. Mr. Croston of this re- view has in his possession the coat of arms of the Croston family, bestowed by the king of England in the seventeenth century.
It was in the year 1848 that the parents of Frank Croston became residents of Mount Morris, New York, where they spent their remaining days, their interment being made in Mount Hope cem- etery of that city. The father was a farmer by occupation and thus provided for the support of his family of eleven children, only three of whom are now living.
Frank Croston resided in his native city until eighteen years of age, when he came to Rochester, where he has resided continuously since 1870. The year after his arrival he built his first house and since that time he has been prominently con- nected with the improvement of the city through building operations. He has erected twenty-five different buildings for himself and all in Roches- ter, with the exception of one which he built in Kansas City, Missouri-a block of flats at the corner of Ninth and Troost avenue-in 1887. He has been the promoter of the modern apartment in Rochester, and in 1891 erected the Centrepolis, and in 1905 The Croston, which is an apartment of six stories, including basement, at 53 Elm street. It contains forty-five apartments, all fin- ished in mahogany. It is the latest and most ap- proved in every respect, being a model apartment building of the city. The building is equipped with the Otis electric automatic elevator and tele- phones are supplied in every apartment. This building which bears his name is the culmination of a life of experience in building operations and brings an annual rental of twelve thousand dollars. It stands on a historic spot, where was built the first frame house of the east side that in course of time was superseded by the first brick building on the east side, the latter having been erected in 1820 by William H. Adams. Mr. Croston has erected four blocks of flats on Monroe avenue, one on Alexander street, one on Howell street, six on South avenue and several houses in different parts of the city. None were erected for others, but were all built for himself. He has always drawn his own plans and executed them, never letting a contract or taking one. He is well known in Rochester as a speculative builder and in this connection has contributed in large and substan-
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FRANK CROSTON.
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tial measure to the growth and improvement of the city.
In 1892 Mr. Croston was married to Miss Alice
B. Lapham, a native of Saginaw, Michigan, who . remained until 1886, and in this connection rose died in Rochester, July 3, 1901, at the age of thir- ty-seven years. In politics he has been a life-long republican and for six years he was a committee- man of the fourth ward, which at that time had a democratic majority of two hundred and fifty. He accepted the nomination of alderman in order to give his party a candidate and such was his per- sonal popularity and the confidence reposed in him that he ran far ahead of his ticket, lacking but nine votes of election. He is pre-eminently a business man and one of marked ability. He has been a large contributor to the wealth of the city through the erection of much valuable property, and has also brought great benefits to the com- munity in providing homes for a multitude of worthy families of the middle class and in fur- nishing employment to many workmen. Aside from his personal concerns he has afforded pub- lic service of far-reaching and enduring value- real estate in all parts of the city rapidly advanc- ing in value and unsightly vacancies being occu- pied by attractive edifices. His work as a builder has met with cordial and general appreciation, and The Croston is today a splendid monument to his enterprise.
FRANK M. ELLERY.
Frank M. Ellery, secretary of the Security Trust Company of Rochester, has reached his position of trust and responsibility, through experiences of forty years of active and honorable business life. His parents, Henry and Ann (Grimes) Ellery, were natives of Yorkshire, England. The parental grandfather was a farmer and lay preacher of the Methodist church. Henry Ellery came to America in 1821 and settled on a farm in the town of Mar- cellus, New York. He died at the age of seventy- seven years, his wife at the age of fifty-six. . The subject of this sketch was the youngest of nine children : John; Mary, who became the wife of Robert A. Richardson; Henry ; William G .; Eliza- beth, who became the wife of Walter A. Hum- phrey; Richard A .; George W .; and Albert A. F. M. Ellery was born September 6, 1846, on his father's farm in Skaneateles, New York. His education was acquired in the district schools and two winters at the academy or graded school of Skaneateles village. At the age of seventeen he taught in the country near Owasco, New York, but believing that a business career would offer better and broader opportunities, he obtained a clerkship in the Auburn postoffice. Two years later he en- gaged with the American Express Company, which
transferred him to Rochester in 1866. In April, 1868, he entered the employ of the wholesale firm of Smith, Perkins & Company, with whom he. from junior clerk to be the head of the credit department. He studied law while with this firin and was admitted to the bar in 1879, but practiced little except in connection with his firm's affairs. He left this position to connect himself with the Rochester branch of the Standard Oil Company- the Vacuum Oil Company-with which he re- mained eight years. He resigned his position with the Oil Company to become the assistant secretary of the Security Trust Company, and became the secretary in 1898. Mr. Ellery has been a leading spirit in establishing this institution on a broad and firm foundation until it ranks among the strongest financial institutions of the state. Its deposits since his connection with it have grown from nine hundred and seventy thousand dollars to nearly eleven million dollars.
On the 19th of May, 1870, Mr. Ellery was mar- ried to Mary Alida Alling, daughter of Lewis H. Alling. Mrs. Ellery's paternal grandfather was Derrick Sibley, one of the prominent citizens of the then village of Rochester ; her maternal grand- mother was a Cory of the Ballston family of that name. Her father, Lewis H. Alling, was promi- nently identified with the progress and commercial prosperity of Rochester. The only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ellery, Eloise, is a graduate of Vas- sar College, of the class of 189%, and is now asso- ciate professor of history in that institution.
Mr. and Mrs. Ellery are members of the Central Presbyterian church of Rochester, in which he has served as an elder since 1875. Politically he is a republican but without aspiration for office. He was for a number of years on the board of di- rectors of the Young Men's Christian Association, and was for a term the vice president of the Oak Hill Country Club, and is still a member. He has always been prominent in church circles and there is no good work, either in the name of charity or the advancement of religion, which does not find in him an earnest and material helper. His strict integrity, business conservatism and sound judg- ment have been so universally recognized that he enjoys public confidence to an enviable degree.
JOHN CHARLTON.
The advocates of the theory that a man over forty years of age is useless will find themselves confronted with a strong proof of the contrary theory when they read the biography of John Charlton, who, though seventy-three years of age,
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
is still supervising his business and pursuing his study and research in his chosen line. He was born at Horningsham, Wiltshire, England, No- vember 19, 1835. It was in the schools of his native land that he acquired his early education. As a child he had shown a marked talent and in- clination for the study of flowers. Outside of his school hours he was always intent upon this study and was fortunate in being allowed to follow his natural talent. At the age of seventeen years he was apprenticed for three years at Longleat Gar- dens, the seat of the Marquis of Bath. These were among the finest gardens in England at that time and there were twenty-three applicants for the position which Mr. Charlton secured. That he was more than an amateur at the work, even at this early age, is evidenced by the fact that he gained the coveted position over so many aspirants for the place. When the term of his apprentice- ship expired he was sought for by several gentle- men, but finally accepted an appointment to take entire charge of a large garden on the island of Guernsey, in the English channel. This position was satisfactory to Mr. Charlton, but he was look- ing for larger opportunities for his chosen field, and his keen insight told him that America held that for which he was seeking. According the year 1857 found him in Rochester in charge of George J. Whitney's garden, and later he had charge of the garden, grapery and greenhouses for Joseph Hall. While in the employ of the latter gentle- man, Mr. Charlton made a visit to his native coun- try, where he spent the winter. In this way and in these occupations he' passed the years up to 1861. It was then that he started into business on his own account by the purchase of a piece of ground at the corner of Culver road and Univers- ity avenue. It required four years of research, study and experience, as well as hard work, to pre- pare the ground for raising flowers and fruits, in which Mr. Charlton hoped to accomplish large ends. The interesting element of this gentleman's business has not been following servilely the meth- ods of others, but the adoption of new methods and new varieties. He was among the first to grow grape vines and fuschias for market. He raised the then famous Peter Henderson carnation from seed and sold it to Messrs. Nanz & Neuner, of Louisville, Kentucky, for six hundred and fifty dollars. In 1869 he introduced Ampelopsis Veit- chii from England, and was the first to advertise it in this country. He also introduced the well known Poeklington grape, the Golden Prolific gooseberry and helped to introduce the James Vick strawberry and has propagated new varieties called the Charlton grape and the Purity grape. In 1883 he decided to give his entire time to growing roses, clematis, grapes and small fruits, and for this purpose added larger and more beautiful green- houses to his former equipment. He now owns
the East Main street property and the Moses Smith farm in Brighton. also a part of the Dr. Miller farm, also in Brighton, and does a general business in small and large fruits of all kinds, keeping up both a retail and wholesale establish- ment.
Mr. Charlton's wife bore the maiden name of Sarah MacAskie and was born in the northern part of Ireland. There are four children in their family : John A .; Joseph M .: Fannie, the wife of W. B. Kerr; and Margaret. His two sons, Joseph M. and John, are associated with him in his pres- ent business. The former young man was born February 19, 1859, and had a common and high- school education. In 1900 he was married in this city to Della McLean, a native of Geneseo. The latter mentioned son, John A., married Emma Allen, of this city, a daughter of John G. Allen, then principal of the high school. They have two children : Florence and Howard.
As a horticulturist and botanist, Mr. Charlton is widely known, having exhibited his roses and fruits at large fairs, where he has invariably been awarded first premium. His advice and opinion relating to the profession of which he stands at the head, are sought for from all sources. The de- gree of success he has attained is due largely to his native talent, and also to the fact that he has given his life to the study and promotion of his business. It is said that it takes a great man to stand success, and Mr. Charlton is certainly a living illustration of this statement. Never does he boast of his work or worth, and he is so quiet nd unobtrusive that his fine characteristics as a man are known only to his most intimate friends and associates.
GEORGE H. ANO.
George H. Ano is an enterprising and progres- sive business man of Despatch, where he is con- ducting a blacksmith shop, and in addition to this is a wagonmaker and wood-worker and does all kinds of cabinet work, his plant being equipped with the latest improved machinery for the con- duct of such a business. His trade has now reached extensive proportions, his being the only enterprise of this character in the city.
Mr. Ano was born in Massachusetts, in 1862, and was but a small boy when he was taken by his father, Joseph Ano, to Forestport, Oneida county, New York, where he was educated and reared to years of maturity. The father owned a farm there and conducted a sawmill for thirty- three years hut later removed to Canada, where he now makes his home. The son was engaged in business with his father for a time, managing his business interests for seven years, and later
GEORGE H. ANO.
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
he conducted the mill on his own account for ten years, sawing birch, hemlock and spruce lum- ber. The father built a shop for the son, in which he carried on a blacksmithing business, after having learned the trade. In 1899 he came to Despatch, Monroe county, and built a two- story structure thirty by fifty feet, with shed thirty by thirty feet. He equipped his plant with modern machinery, necessary for carrying on his work, the plant being operated by electric power. He here conducts a blacksmith, wagonmaking, wood-working and cabinet-making establishment, his being the only business of this character in this place. He has through his honorable meth- ods and reasonable prices built up a trade that as now reached extensive and mammoth propor- tions, and thus returns to him a good annual in- come. He likewise erected near his shop a mod- ern eight-room house, which is supplied with all conveniences and accessories which add to the comfort of the inmates, and he has a barn six- teen by twenty-two feet. Adjoining his own resi- dence he has built another eight-room house, which he sold the following year.
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