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 69
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HORACE J. MANN, M. D.
One of the most skillful as well as the most honored pioneer physicians of Brockport is Dr. Horace J. Mann, born here October 13, 1866. It has been said that a child's education should be- gin one hundred years before he is born and so it did in the case of Dr. Mann. His great-grand- father, Theophilus Randall, was a charter mem- ber of the Monroe County Medical Society and also of the one preceding it and was an honored pioneer physician of Monroe county for many years. The grandfather, Dr. Horace Clark, and his twin brother, Augustus, were also pioneer prac- titioners of the community, Augustus being a sur- geon in the Civil war. The father of Dr. Horace J. Mann is also a physician, so that it is not a matter of surprise that the subject of this sketch should follow in the profession which his father, grandfather and great-grandfather had pursued so successfully.
Dr. Mann received his literary education at the Brockport State Normal School and soon after this he took up the study of medicine in the Uni- versity of Buffalo, from which he was graduated in 1888. He immediately began the practice of his profession in Brockport and, outside that of his father, is now longest in practice in this village, nor does his reputation stop here. He is a mem- ber of the American Medical Association, New York State Medical Society and of the Monroe County Medical Society, Rochester Academy of Medicine and the Rochester Pathological Society. Locally, too, the Doctor has always been most
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public-spirited and generous with his time, strength and money. He has served the community of Sweden as health officer for a number of years and has been the efficient school trustee of district No. 9 in the same town for two terms. In spite of the busy life of a physician he has been a mem- ber of the local fire department. Fraternally he is associated with the Royal Arch Masons.
On June 5, 1889, Dr. Mann was married to Miss Jeannie W. Osgood, a daughter of R. F. Os- good, patent attorney of Rochester. Two children have been born to this union, Evelyn E. and Mor- ris Townsend. Both Dr. and Mrs. Mann are mem- bers of the Episcopal church. The Doctor's many estimable traits of character, his good qualities of heart and mind and his generous sympathy have all combined to make him a man whose life will leave an influence and mark in the community which time cannot efface.
EDMUND E. WESTERMAN.
Edmund E. Westerman represents one of the old and prominent pioneer families of Monroe county, and as head of the Despatch Coal & Pro- duce Company is well known in business circles. The family was established here by the maternal grandfather, Jacob Westerman, who in 1835 locat- ed on a farm in Pittsford township and there lived throughout his remaining days. In 1869 the paternal grandfather purchased a tract of land comprising fifty-five acres, which adjoined a tract of land which belonged to his son, Charles H. Wes- terman. The latter was reared on the old home- stead farm in Penfield township, and acquired his education in the district schools near his father's home. Charles H. Westerman was born in Pen- field township in 1845 and was married to Caro- line Westerman, who was born in Pittsford town- ship, a daughter of John G. Westerman and a sister of George Westerman. In 1869 the father purchased fifty-four acres of land on which the town of Despatch now stands, while in 1878 he added a twenty-acre tract. He disposed of his property to the Vanderbilt Improvement Com- pany, after which it was subdivided into town lots and the town of Despatch has now become one of the progressive villages of the county. After he disposed of his landed possessions, Charles H. Westerman removed to Rochester, where he spent one year, subsequent to which time he went to Despatch, where he remained for three years and then went to Fairport, where his remaining days were passed, his death occurring in 1905.
Edmund E. Westerman is one of a family of three children, of whom two are living, his sister being Alice I .. Westerman. The son was born in
Perinton township, in 1874, and acquired his edu- cation in the schools of Fairport and in the Ro- chester Business University. He was reared in much the usual manner of farm lads, assisting his father in the work of the homestead property dur- ing the summer seasons. When starting out upon his own account in 1896, he purchased one hun- dred acres of land, known as the Newman Barker farm, situated in Pittsford township. He carried on general agricultural pursuits until 1906, when he leased his land and removed to Despatch, where he purchased the business of the Despatch Coal Company, which he has since carried on under the firm name of the Despatch Coal & Produce Com- pany, for in addition to handling good grades of coal, Mr. Westerman also handles produce, selling to the retail trade. He has built up a good trade in both lines and sells coal to both the wholesale and retail trade.
Mr. Westerman was married in Pittsford, in 1896, to Miss Cora Huff, who was born in that vil- lage, a daughter of Christ Huff, a farmer. Their home has been blessed with one son, Charles H. Westerman, now nine years of age. Mr. Wester- man affiliates with the Masons, the Knights of the Maccabees and the Grange. In the various lines of activity to which Mr. Westerman is directing his efforts, he is meeting with unbounded success, for he has ever followed the most honorable meth- ods in his business dealings and therefore as a worthy representative of an old and prominent pioneer family of Monroe county he deserves men- tion in this vohime.
ISAAC A. WILE.
Isaac A. Wile, counselor at law and treasurer and manager of the Snow, Church Company at Rochester, was born in Pahnyra, New York, March 28, 1853, his parents being Abram and Hannah ( Greentree) Wile, both of whom were natives of Germany, in which country all of their children were born with the exception of our subject, who is now the only one living of a family of eight. The father was a merchant and thus provided for the members of his household.
Isaac A. Wile was liberally educated, attending the University of Rochester, from which he was graduated in the class of 1872 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. During the last year of his collegiate course he took up the study of law and continued his reading until admitted to the bar in 1874. He hegan practice with Solomon Wile under the firm name of Wile & Wile, and so con- tinued until 1889. He was afterward alone in practice, but later gave up the active work of the profession for about seven years, during which time he was connected with mercantile interests. In
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1897 he took charge of his present business and has since been manager of the Snow, Church Com- pany. In the field of commercial activity as well as in the law he has displayed excellent business ability and energy, carrying on his interests with a large measure of success that at once indicates his close application, his strong purpose and keen discernment.
On the 18th of August, 1889, Mr. Wile was united in marriage to Miss Clara Bier, a native of Rochester, and they now have two daughters, Helen Marian and Ruth Julia. Mr. Wile is a member and one of the governors of the Rochester Club. He also belongs to the Masonic Club and is one of the most prominent Masons of the city. He is now serving as high priest of Ionic chapter, R. A. M., has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish rite and is a member of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a director of the Masonic Temple Corporation, was one of the prime movers in the building of the temple and has acted as a director from the beginning. Mr. Wile is a lover of society and of his friends and in his grasp and greeting there is always welcome. He is genial, companionable and entertaining and is widely recognized as one of the most popular citizens of Rochester.
MORTIMER SMITH COX.
Mortimer Smith Cox, a representative of the farming interests of Chili township, was born in the year 1877 at his present place of residence and is a son of George and Alice Cox. His father was a native of Livingston county, New York, while the mother's birth occurred in Chili town- ship near the present home of our subject. In the year 1858 George Cox arrived in Chili township and settled on a tract of land of two hundred and twenty-five acres, which he improved and culti- vated, bringing it under a high state of develop- ment. It has since been the family homestead and is now the property of Mr. Cox of this re- view. The father gives his political allegiance to the democracy and in religious faith is a Presby- terian. He carried on general agricultural pur- suits for a number of years, but at length retired from the farm and with his wife is living in Scottsville. In their family were three children, the daughters being Mrs. Grinnell, a resident of Rochester, and Mrs. Keyes, of Scottsville.
Mortimer Smith Cox, the youngest of the fam- ily, at the usual age became a pupil in the district school, later pursued his studies in the high school and eventually was graduated on the completion of the regular course from the Rochester Insti- tute.
In 1905 Mr. Cox was married to Miss Clara Henderson of Rochester, a daughter of Captain Henderson of Rochester, now deceased. Her mother is still living in Rochester. Mr. and Mrs. Cox are pleasantly located upon an excellent farm of Chili township, and they have one daughter, Caroline. Mr. Cox is a republican in his political views, stanchly endorsing the principles of the party, and the position which he occupies in public regard was indicated by his election to the office of justice of the peace, in which he is now serving.
JOHN KELLY.
While almost ten years have passed since John Kelly was called from this life, he is yet remem- bered by those who knew him as an enterprising. reliable and successful business man, and a loyal and public spirited citizen. He displayed many sterling characteristics which gained him the high regard of those with whom he came in contact.
He was born in Ireland in 1837 and was but a young lad when he became an American citizen. When his school life was over he entered upon his business career at Horseheads, New York, where he served an apprenticeship to the shoe manu- facturing trade. Later he removed to Owego, New York, where he opened a retail shoe store in part- nership with a Mr. Wall under the firm name of Wall & Kelly. After spending some years in that city he took up his abode at Auburn, New York, where he established a shoe factory, which he con- ducted successfully until the plant was destroyed by fire. Removing to Rochester, he joined the ranks of shoe manufacturers whose product has given the city a world-wide prestige. Here he founded an extensive shoe factory, conducting a large and profitable business up to the time of his death. The excellent quality of his output secured him a large patronage and enabled him to give employment to many workmen, so that the public was a large indirect beneficiary of his business.
In early manhood Mr. Kelly was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary A. Welch, of Palmyra, New York, who died in 1886, leaving five children : Katherine, Frank X., J. Raymond, Arthur and Harry, all of Rochester. On the 30th of May. 1890, Mr. Kelly was again married, his second union being with Miss Josephine Dacy, of Syra- cuse, a daughter of John B. and Julia (Allen) Dacy, who were natives of Pennsylvania and who are now deceased. Her father was an extensive lumber dealer and gained a creditable measure of success in the trade.
Mr. Kelly held membership in St. Bridget's Catholic church and also affiliated with the Catho- lic Mutual Benevolent Association, in the work
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of both being deeply and helpfully interested. He gave generously to charity and was promi- nently identified with all progressive and benefi- cient movements in the parish. He died Novem- ber 9, 1898, at the age of sixty-one years. Roch- ester thereby lost a valued representative of its industrial interests and a citizen whose devotion to municipal progress and honor were marked. His friends-and they were many-found him trustworthy under all conditions and in all rela- tions of life, while in his family he was a devoted husband and father, whose interest centered in his own household and who found his greatest joy and pleasure at his own fireside.
CHARLES TRAFTON HAM.
Not the good that comes to us but the good that comes to the world through us is the measure of our success, and when judged in this light Charles Trafton Ham was an extremely successful man. He founded and developed one of the important industrial enterprises of Rochester but it was not alone the extent of the trade which he secured that entitled him to distinction. The course which he followed in his relation to his employes might well serve as a model to the business man of the present, who regards results rather than means and frequently puts aside all thought of individual responsibility in his dealings with those who serve him. Mr. Ham was most highly respected by all of his employes and they knew that faithful, mer- itorious service would win promotion. He was quick to acknowledge the good in others and, re- membering the struggles of his own youth, did everything in his power to aid those who were honestly and diligently striving for advancement.
A native of Maine, Mr. Ham was born on the 25th of September, 1824, near Stateline and also near Great Falls, New Hampshire. His education- al privileges were somewhat limited, owing to the fact that financial reverses overtook his father, forcing him to start out in the world empty- handed when a boy of fourteen years. He began earning his living at farm labor but later de- cided to learn the machinist's trade and to this end went to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and later to Great Falls, that state. At a subsequent date he was employed in the Hinckley Locomotive Works in Boston. He thoroughly mastered his tasks, continually broadening his knowledge along mechanical lines, and when twenty-three years of age he became an engineer on a run between Low- ell and Boston. While thus engaged he made a remarkable record, running the engine known as the Whistler at great risk to his own life, making a record of seventy-two miles an hour. Because of this feat he became known all over the country
and "the boy and the Whistler" were for some time household words in engineering circles. This run was indicative of a strong trait in his charac- ter-to always keep ahead, to do in any line of business the best thing possible. Right after the Civil war he was appointed master mechanic of the Little Miami Railroad at the age of twenty-three years.
Subsequently Mr .Ham was engaged in the car foundry business with Morey & Company, of Cin- cinnati, and afterward was appointed master me- chanic for the Northern Cross Railroad, now the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, with headquarters at Quincy, Illinois. From that place he went to Ohio & Mississippi Railroad Company at East St. Louis and was there promoted to gen- eral master mechanic, acting in that capacity dur- ing the period of the Civil war. On account of ill health he then returned to New Hampshire, where he engaged in farming for three years, completely regaining his health during that period. He then took a position as superintendent of machine power on the New York Central Rail- road under Commodore Vanderbilt, and the work which he accomplished in that connection was of a most excellent. and serviceable character. He completely reorganized the department, changing all the engines from wood burning to coal burn- ing, and while filling the position he saved the company over one million of dollars in this way. Commodore Vanderbilt gave him a large increase in salary and offered him more if he would con- tinue, also agreeing to hire two assistants for him, but Mr. Ham wished to engage upon an independ- ent business career, having already decided to embark in the manufacture of lamps. He joined James H. Kelly and the Kelly Lamp Company of Rochester was formed. Later he sold out and join- ed the firm of Ray, Marvin & Ham in Buffalo, in the manufacture of headlights and steam gauges. This firm was afterward changed to Ray, Marvin, Ham & Bunnell, at which time they took in the firm of Parmelle & Bunnell, consolidating the two businesses. It was not long afterward when the entire business was removed to Rochester under the firm name of the Buffalo Steam Gauge & Lan- tern Company. Still later they bought out the Dennis-Wheeler Manufacturing Company of Chi- cago and also moved that business to Rochester. Mr. Ham acted as president for four years, on the expiration of which period he sold out and organized the C. T. Ham Manufacturing Com- pany, manufacturing tubular lanterns and lamps and railroad lanterns. This company was or- ganized in 1886, at which time Mr. Ham admitted his son and others to an interest in the business, of which he became president, his son, George W. Ham, secretary and treasurer, and John W. Orphy and Charles Bergener as manufacturing superintendents. The business was established on
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Allen street in the Bishop building and in 1890 was removed to the present location at No. 731 Oak street, their buildings now covering three hundred by one hundred and forty-five feet, while three times the amount of business is being car- ried on.
While a railroad man Charles T. Ham was considered the best mechanic in the service and was offered numerous positions as president of railroad companies, the principal one being with the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. He refused the offer, although the salary was very large and directed his energies into the channels of trade indicated. Mr. Ham was a man of very strong character, fearless in defense of what he believed to be right and never following a course that his judgment did not sanction as the honorable one between himself and his fellowman. He was very charitable and considerate of his employes, paying every man what he believed him to be worth. He did not wait to be asked for an increase of salary but gave according to the merit of the individual. He could walk through the factory and apparently without looking would know just what each man was doing and how well he was doing the work. He never had a strike or any labor trouble and paid higher wages than other men in similar lines of business. He refused to enter into any agreement with competitors in regard to the prices to be paid his men and employes of other companies frequent- ly sought positions with him. He deserved much credit for what he accomplished, owing to the fact that he was a penniless youth when he started out in the business world.
About 1842 Mr. Ham was married to Miss Mary Elizabeth Wentworth, of Great Falls, New Hamp- shire, and they had seven children: George Wash- ington, who died at the age of five years ; Freder- ick, who died when a year old; Charles H., who died at the age of forty-two years; Edgar, who died when thirteen years of age; George Willaim, now president of the company; Mary Elizabeth, the wife of Charles F. Crandall, an architect of Rochester; and Jennie, who died in infancy.
The death of the husband and father occurred September 27, 1903, when he had reached the age of seventy-nine years. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party and at all times he stood for progessive citizenship. He was actu- ated in all that he did by high and honorable mo- tives and his every-day life commanded for him the respect and good will of all with whom he came in contact. It is not from the few con- spicuous deeds of life that the blessings chiefly come which make the world better, sweeter, hap- pier, but from the countless lowly ministries of the every days, the little faithfulnesses that fill long years. It was in this daily performance of duty that Mr. Ham became known as one who con-
tributed to the sum total of the world's happiness and advancement. While he prospered as the years went by, he never allowed the accumulation of wealth to in any way affect his manner to- ward those less fortunate. He had sympathy with those in his employ and it was this which won their loyal support. This lack of sympathy is the great cause of all the world's labor troubles. It causes the feeling that the employer is arrayed against those in his service, that class is against class. Those who served Mr. Ham grew to know that a sincere interest in his fellowmen prompted him to recognize their capability and to reward their skill and faithfulness. Such men are the real philanthropists of the world and if more would follow his example the question of capital and labor would be forever at rest.
GEORGE WILLIAM HAM. 1
George William Ham, in business his father's successor, was born in 1855 and in his vouth received a thorough business training. En- tering his father's emplov, he was not favored be- cause of this relationship but went through the practical training of the factory in the same man- ner as any other employe. He applied himself assiduously to the mastery of every task assigned him and in the course of years became recog- nized as a strong business man. He has in- herited those sterling traits of character which characterized his father in building up the in- dustry of which George W. Ham is now the head. He is both president and treasurer of the company, while James Barnes is secretary, Fred Mccutcheon, assistant treasurer ; Charles Berge- ner, superintendent ; and Charles W. Bergener. assistant superintendent. Mr. Ham is also presi- dent of the Seneca Camera Manufacturing Com- pany and is the owner of large mining interests in California. He has made judicious investments and his business and property holdings are an- nually bringing to him a verv gratifying financial return, which if it continues will gain for him financial independence.
On the 17th of February, 1876, George William Ham was married to Miss Alice Cora Mccutcheon, a daughter of Robert Mccutcheon, of Rochester. They have three daughters : Beula, at home; Flor- ence E., the wife of John E. Hartfolder; and Ethel S., at home. The parents are members of the Baptist church and Mr. Ham is a Scottish Rite Mason. He is also connected with the Knights Templar commandery and with the Odd Fellows society. In politics he is a democrat in principle but at local elections votes for the cleanest man on either ticket, being opposed to misrule in municipal affairs, desiring always a clean, good
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government. For thirty years he has been in business and, like his father, is looked up to as a model business man. He is energetic and deter- mined and it has been not because of inheritance or any favoring circumstance but because of close application and firm purpose that he has gained his present creditable position in the commercial world.
GEORGE C. HOLLISTER.
The name of Hollister has been well known in Rochester through many decades. The birth of George C. Hollister occurred here in 1856, his parents being Emmet H. and Sarah E. (Granger) Hollister. His training for life's practical and responsible duties was received in the Rochester schools and the Rochester Univer- sity, being graduated from the latter institution with the class of 1877. The Hollister lumber business had already become a factor in commer- cial life at that time and on completing his collegiate course George C. Hollister entered the office to acquaint himself with the business in principle and detail. The Hollister Lumber Company is one of the early established concerns of Rochester, having been founded by the grand- father, George A. Hollister, in 1835. He con- tinued its conduct throughout his life and was succeeded by his son, Emmet Hollister, who re- mained at the head of the business until his de- mise. After the father's death the business was conducted under the firm name of Hollister Brothers by George C. and Granger A. Hollis- ter, the trade interests of the house being thus controlled until 1885, when papers of incorpora- tion were taken out and the name of the Hol- lister Lumber Company, Limited, was assumed. George C. Hollister became vice president of the new organization and later its president. He has not confined his attention, however, to one line of business. He is president of the Hollister Real Estate Company, engaged in the erection of residence properties and the construction of fac- tories. It is in connection with the building of many of Rochester's homes that Mr. Hollister will long be remembered and highly respected. His opinion is largely accepted as authority on real estate and building, so thoroughly has he ac- quainted himself with the business and with land and property values. He commands the admira- tion of those who know his business career and the high regard of his business associates. He be- came one of the incorporators of the Rochester Gas & Electric Company, was its first secretary, and after four years' service in that position re- tired from the active management, although re-
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