USA > New York > Monroe County > Rochester > History of Rochester and Monroe county, New York, from the earliest historic times to the beginning of 1907 > Part 58
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member of the Society of Colonial Wars, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Society of the War of 1812, of Philadelphia, and the New Eng- land Society of New York. In his citizenship he lis ever stood for advancement and improvement and is not unknown in political circles. On the contrary he believes it the duty as well as the privilege of every American citizen to exercise his right of franchise and support those princi- ples which seem most beneficial in bringing about gond government, His stalwart republicanism and his well known devotion to high ideals in political life led to his selection in the fall of 1894 for rep- resentation in congress from the thirty-first dis- triet of New York. He served in the fifty-fourth and fifty-fifth congresses and during his first term was a member of the committee on coinage, weights and measures. The following term he was made chairman of the committee on the alcoholic liquor traffic and a member of the committee on invalid pensions. In 1900 he represented New York in the republican national convention which placed William McKinley at the head of the ticket, and was an alternate at large in 1901. He was a member of the New York Chamber of Com- merce about ten years.
Most happily situated in his home life, Henry C. Brewster was married, in October, 1826, to Miss Alice Chapin, a daughter of Louis Chapin, of Rochester, and they have two daughters, Rachel A. and Edithn C. Their home is the center of a cultured society circle and their friends are many. Mr. Brewster has never allowed the ac- mmmulation of wealth to alleet in any way his manner toward those less fortunate and entrance to the circle of his friends is gained by charac- ter worth and not by material possessions. His associates know him as a most genial, kindly gen- tleman and. while he has made the acquaintance of many mnen distinguished in state and national affairs, he holds as his most priceless treasure the friendship and respect of his fellow townsmen among whom his entire life has been passed and who are thoroughly familiar with his history from his boyhood down to the present time.
HON. SAMUEL LEE SELDEN.
New York has always been distinguished for the high rank of her beneh and bar, and no state in the Union can boast of abler jurists or attorneys. Prominent among those belonging to Rochester bar was Hon. Samuel Lee Selden, who was one of the three eminent jurists who occupied the bench of the court of appeals of the state. He was born in Lytne, Connecticut, in October. 1800, and came
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to Rochester at the age of twenty-one. Here he studied Jaw in the office of Addison Gardiner, the distinguished jurist, with whom he formed a part- nership after his admission to the bar. Later his brother, Henry Rogers Selden, became a student in their office. The three men thus associated were destined to rank as leaders in the jurisprudence of the Empire state and figure in conspienons posi- tions in the history of legal science.
Mr. Selden was early called upon to fill impor- tant public positions in connection with his pro- fession. In 1831 he was appointed first judge of the Mouroe common pleas and held that office eight years. He also served as master and clerk of the court of chancery, and in 1847 he was the candidate of the democratic party for justice of the supreme court, to which office he was elected by a handsome majority, receiving the support of his friends in both political organizations as his own party was in the minority. Serving his full term, he gave evidence of the possession of such consum- mate judicial aptitude and uncommon legal talent that in 1835 he was elected judge of the court of appeals in the place of his former law partner, Judge Addison Gardiner, who had retired, deelin- ing a re-election. Here Judge Selden also served with conspicuous ability until failing health forced him to resign about 1863, much to the regret of his professional brethren throughout the state. The remainder of his life was passed in case and retirement in Rochester, where he died September 20, 1876, honored and respected by all who knew him. Hle was the last of his immediate family to pass away.
His wife, who bore the maiden name of Susan Ward, was a danghter of Dr. Levi Ward, who came to Rochester from Haddam, Connecticut, and was one of the earliest settlers of the Genesee val- ley. The Judge had but one child, a son, who died in boyhood. He is survived by two nephews who reside in Rochester, these being George R. Selden, a prominent member of the Rochester bar and one of the leading patent attorneys of the city; and Arthur R., who is recognized as one of the fore- most civil engineers and draughtemen of Roches- ter.
At the time when Professor S. F. B. Morse was working hard to obtain assistance in introducing his system of telegraphv. Judge Selden and his brother, together with Henry O'Reilly. Jonathan Child and a few others, organized a company to construct a line forty miles in length between Harrisburg and Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The Selden brothers later acquired an interest in a similar corporation formed under the House pat- ents, and were thas among the very pioneers in telegraphy in the world, virtually laying the foun- dation of the present Western Union system, which eventually developed from the last named com- pany.
Judge Selden's written opinions are beautiful works of literature, as well as able and authorita- tive documents on legal procedure. His profound knowledge of law, his keen sense of justice, his un- swerving adherence to right, and his wonderful command of language permeate every line. His judgment seldom erred. His writings may be found in volume 5 of Selden's (his brother's) re- ports, court of appeals, to volume 24 of New York reports, and also in the supreme court reports dur- ing his occupancy of that bench. His entire time and attention were devoted to his professional duties. Although he took considerable interest in public affairs, he was never an active party worker. He was charitable, enterprising and public spirited, and was intimately associated with various local institutions. The Judge was tall and slender, but was endowed with a distinguished physique. He was somewhat retiring in disposition, but made many friends and was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him.
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E. O. WARREN.
E. O. Warren, born at Canastota, in Madison county. New York, in 1846, is the son of Loran Warren who was a railroad man and for many years employed by the Rochester Brick & Tile Manufacturing Company. He passed away in 1894, at the age of sixty-nine years. His wife was Mary Whitney, of Madison county, New York, and they had four sons and four daughters, the former all now living while the Intter all died in infanev.
Mr. Warren received his early education in the public schools of New York state-schools which have always been noted for their thoroughuess. He came to Monroe county on a canal bout about 1852 and when only eleven years of age began working for a brick company by which he was employed to run errands and do various odd jobs. He gradu- ally worked up through every department in the business until 1856 when he was appointed super- intendent of the factory, which manufactures tile and hollow brick blocks. He has under him some one hundred and fifty men who consider him a most proficient superior.
When the war broke out Mr. Warren felt that his place was in the army where he could serve his country in preserving the Union. Accordingly he enlisted in the Twenty-first New York Cavalry and served two years and six months until the close of the war. He was under Sheridan and in the cavalry.
In 1866 he was united in marriage to Mary A. Hanna, a native of Canada, who early settled in this county. There were four children born to this union: Ida M., deceased; Louise E., who is the
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wife of P. J. Davis; May Sylvia and Grace E., who are at home.
The subject of this sketch has always been a stanch republican and though he has never sought its offices or honors, he has been active in the serv- ice of his party. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a man that began on the first step of the ladder and in spite of difficulties and interruptions has steadily climbed to the top. He possesses those sterling characteristics which make him a stalwart citizen und a successful busi- ness man.
JOHN JACOB BAUSCH.
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Who would have thought that when John Jacob Bausch landed in America on the completion of a voyage across the Atlantic from his native Ger- many in 1849, he was to become the founder of the leading optical business of the world. He was a young man with no pretentions to fame or fortune. On the contrary he was unknown in this country and his financial resources were ex- ceedingly limited. He had been attracted thither, however, by the report that untiring labor soon brings substantial reward in America and a laud- able ambition therefore prompted his removal from the fatherland to the I'nited States.
He was born in the town of Suessen, Wartem- burg, on the 25th of July. 1830. His education had been acquired there and he began his busi- ness career in the employ of his brother, a manu- facturer and dealer in optical instruments, and there learned the trade which formed the ground- work of his career. For three years after his ar- rival in the United States he was employed in the cities of Rochester and Buffalo as a wood turner, but the loss of two fingers on his right band forced him to give up the work and he im- mediately turned his attention to the manufacture of optical appliances. Small was the beginning and dark the outlook. There was little to en- courage him and in fact many seemingly insur- mountable obstacles arose from time to time but he possessed ingenuity and his ability to plan and to performn have constituted the foundation stone upon which he has reared the superstructure of a splendid success, Ilis first enterprise was a da- guerreotype studio, which he conducted in Rey- nolds Arcade in the city of Rochester and there in 1853 with his association with Henry Lomb as a partner in the business was the foundation of the present business laid. For this enterprise about sixty dollars was furnished by Captain Lomb. Manufacturing was carried on in a small way but the business was so muremunerative that both parties were frequently compelled to resort to
their former trades to eke out a modest subsis- lence. When the war broke ont the advance of gold enabled the struggling firm to compete suc- cessfully with the foreign manufacturers and a decided increase in the business followed, but the retail department was not discontinued until 1866, when exclusive right to the use of India rubber was secured, that material having been found very well adapted for the manufacture of eyeglasses. In 1864, with the growth of the business, a fac- tory was seenred at the corner of Andrews and Water streets and the constantly increasing trade demanded another removal in 1868 to a still larger building at the corner of River and Water streets. In 1866, at the time of the incorporation of the Optical Instrument Company, the manufacturing department was separated from the sales depart- ment and Mr. Bausch becoming manufacturing agent remained in Rochester, while a branch office was opened on Broadway, New York, under the di- rection of Mr. Lomh. In the department of eye- glass manufacture the company have been pioneer's and leaders. They have not only introduced the rubber eye-glass but made a change in the shape of the eye, adopting the oval instead of the round. which was then in use. Variety in style and finish was the next stage of improvement; an adjustable eve-glass was invented by J. J: Bausch early in the history of the concern and contributed much to the growth of the business. Lens grinding was begun in a small way in 1865 to meet emergencies arising from the delay in receiving orders from foreign manufacturers. Now they grind every kind of a lens from the simple spectacle lens to the finest the optician or scientist can demand. Machinery has been devised which performs the work with perfect accuracy and with great rap- idity. It is of their own construction and in many cases patented. In 1876 the company began the mamifacture of microscopes, which up to that time were produced almost entirely abroad. Their instruments today are in use in the laboratories of nearly all educational institutions of the land, as well as all government departments. The photo- grapic department was the next addition and here again they have attained the high efficiency which has always characterized their work.
In 1890 so great had been the progress made that an alliance with the world renowned Carl Zeiss Works of Jena hreame possible. The import- ance of this step is realized from the fact that Carl Zeiss stands for supreme technical skill and scien- tifie attainment in the world of opties. As a re- sult of this alliance the Bausch & Lomb Optical Company came into the possession of the formulae of the celebrated Zeiss Anastigmat lenses with the sole right of reproducing them in America. Three years later by virtue of this same arrangement they began the manufacture of the Zeiss Stereo
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J. J. BAUSCH.
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field glasses. The next move of importance was the incorporation of the Bausch Lomb Saeginnl- ler Company for the manufacture of engineering, astronomical and other instruments of precision. Mr. Saegmnuller, of Washington, who has a world- wide reputation as an instrument maker removed his factory from Washington to Rochester and the entire output of the new company is handled by the Bausch & Lomb Optienl Company. The gun sights and other instruments manufactured by the company are used by the goverment of our own and foreign countries where they have proven their exceeding worth. The employes now number about one thousand eight hundred. The present floor space is abont two hundred and twen- ty-five thousand square feet. When the additions and new grinding plant now in process of erer- tion shall be completed the grand total of four hundred and fifty thousand square feet, about ten aeres of space, will be occupied by the company. The constant aim of the founders and promoters of this enterprise has Won to manufacture the highest quality of optical instruments and this resolve has made the business what it is today- the largest mannfactory of optical instruments in the world.
Mr. Bausch was married to Miss Zimmerman and of their six children five are living: Edward, Henry, William, Mrs. Carl Lomb and Mrs. Will- iam Drescher. In politics Mr. Bausch is a re- publican, having stanchly supported the party since he became a naturalized American citizen. He is a member of the Rochester Club but his interests and nitention have been concentrated more largely mpon his business than upon club interests. llowever, a genial disposition and up- rightness of character have made him a favorite with all with whom he has come in contact. The splendid growth and development of his business is indication of his ability, enterprise and strong purpose and his record is one which reflects credit upon the city of his adoption.
JUDGE JOHN M. DAVY.
When the history of New York and her pub- lic men shall have been written its pages will bear no more illustrious name and record, no more distinguished career than that of Judge John M. Davy. If "biography is the home aspect of his- tory," as Wihnott has expressed it, it is certainly within the province of true history to commemor- ate and perpetuate the lives of those mnen whose carrers have been of signal usefulness and honor to the state, and in this connection it is not only. compatible but absolutely imperative that mention
be made of Judge Davy, one of the most able and learned members of the New York bar, who for seventeen years served on the supreme court bench,
Though born across the border, he is distinctive- lv American in his thoughts, his purposes and his loves. lle was born in Ottawa, Ontario, June 29, 1835, and in his infancy was brought by his parents to Monroe county. He is of English and frish descent and his boyhood youth and early man- hood were passed in Mendon and Henrietta until he commenced the practice of law, when he re- moved to Rochester, seeking the broader field of labor offered by the courts of this city. He had alnost completed his preliminary reading when, in 1862. le assisted in raising Company G of the One Hundred and Eighth Regiment of New York Siate Volunivers, and was appointed captain of the company by the recruiting committee of Mon- roe county, which was composed of Dr. Anderson, Judge Selden and others. I. B. Yale, who was at the same time appointed first lientenant, ob- jected to taking a subordinate position, whereupon Mr. Davy offered to exchange places with him. saying that he had enlisted through patriotic mo- tives, and, if necessary. he was willing to enlist as a private. This was truly indicative of the character of the man who had ever placed his country's good before personal aggrandizement. The offer of the exchange was accepted, and in August, 1862, Mr. Davy was commissioned by Governor Morgan as first lieutenant. With the regiment he went to the front and was in active servier until the winter of 1863, when he was ta- ken ill with typhoid fever and the attack left his health and strength seriously impaired, so that he was no longer able for field service, Accord- ingly he was honorably discharged in the spring of 1863.
After recovering his health Judge Davy re- sumed the study of law in the office of Strong, Palmer & Mumford, and was admitted to the bar that year in the same class with Justice William H. Adams, of Canandaigua, New York. Opening an office in Rochester, Mr. Davy at once began practice and his clientage rapidly increased, as in his law work he gave evidence of his ability to handle with masterly skill the intricate prob- lems involved in litigation. He was soon recog- nized as a leader among the younger members of the Rochester bar. In 1868 he received the repub- lican nomination for the office of district attorney of Monroe county. and during his term in that position he handled the large business of the office in a most conscientious and able manner. Declin- ing a second nomination, he retired from office in 1811 with a most creditable record and took up the duties of a constantly increasing private prac- tice.
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From time to time he nas been called from his private business intereste to aid iu conducting public business. Entirely unsolicited and with- out his knowledge there came to him from Presi- dent Grant, in 1822, the appointment to the of- fice of collector of customs for the port of Gene- see, and therein he served until it became neces- sary for him to resign in order to enter upon the dutics of congressman, having been elected to rep- resent his district in the legislative councils of the nation. While in congress Judge Davy was a member of the committee on railways and canals, also the committee appointed to investigate the police commission of the District of Columbia. He voted for the electoral commission hill. He made but few speeches, but was an active and in- fluential member. His speech against congress granting subsidies to railroads was a wise and statesmanlike effort, Studying all his points with care and with a thorough grasp of his subject, he showed that such means were in direct contro- version to the fundamental law of the Innd, and an encroachment upon the rights reserved to the states. In the matter of the Geneva award bill, pertaining to the adjustment of the Alabama claims, he showed an equally nice sense of justice and a solicitude for the preservation of the nation- al honor in an exact performance of the con- ditions expressed by the committee of arbitration in the distribution of the funds awarded. His whole congressional record showed a thorough knowledge of constitutional and common law, as well as practical and sound common sense concern- ing every public question that claimed his at- tention and consideration.
At the close of his congressional career Judge Davy devoted himself exclusively to the work of his profession. He was attorney for the East Side Savings Bank for fourteen years and was also attorney for a syndicate of New York capitalists in the Genesee Valley Canal Railroad litigations. in which his efforts were successful. He was like- wise attorney for the West Shore Railroad Com- pany and the North River Construction Company in the counties of Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Monroe and Gencsee. He was also attorney for the Roch- ester & Lake Ontario Railway Company. While an active practitioner at the bar he argued many cases and lost but few. No one better knows the necessity for thorough preparation and no one has more industriously prepared his cases than he. His handling of his case was always full, compre- hensive and accurate ; his analysis of the fact clear and exhaustive; he saw withont effort the relation and dependence of the facts and so grouped them as to enable him to throw their combined force upon the point they tended to prove. His briefs always showed wide research, careful thought and the best and strongest reasons which could be
urged for his contention, presented in cogent and logical form and illustrated by a style unusually heid and clear.
High professional honors came to Judge Davy in his election in the fall of 1888 as justice of the supreme court for the seventh judicial dis- triet. He was unanimously nominated by the re- publican party und later by the democratie party, while the prohibition party placed no candidate in the field. He received the largest vote ever cast for a justice of the supreme court in the district and after serving fourteen years he was again nom- inated by acclamation by both parties and served for three years, at which time he retired, having reached the age limit of seventy years, as imposed by the laws of the state. His opinions while on the bench showed great research, industry and care and challenged the approval and commended themselves to the bench and bar. He frequently held court in the city of New York during his judicial career and rendered decisions in many very important cases. He is a member of the State Bar Association and for one term served as its vice president. At the conclusion of his last term of court in the city of New York, when the business of the court was endel, Attorney Gen- eral Mayer made a sperch complimenting him upon his record on the bench and voicing the re- gret of the legal fraternity of the state that his term of office was about to expire. District At- torney Jerome and other well known lawyers took occasion to express highly complimentary appre- viation of the career of the Rochester jurist. When he retired from the bench a banquet was held in his honor and the guests had much to say con- cerning his professional and judicial career. Per- haps no better estimate of his official service ean be given than in inserting the addresses delivered at a special term of the supreme court held in Rochester, December 30. 1905, when the bar took occasion to give public expression to the high regard in which Judge Davy is uniformly held.
Mr. J. P. Vurnum said: "This being the last day of your Honor's official term as justice of the supreme court of this state, before you take final leave of the bench on which you have had a spat for the Inst seventeen years, and where you have so well, so faithfully and so conscientiously discharged the duties of your high office, the mem- bers of the bar of this county desire to mark the duy by some open and publie expression of the feelings and sentiments which they entertain to- ward you, both as judge and as man, and for that purpose Mr. Charles M. Williams has been requested to act as our spokesman, whom I now have the pleasure of introducing."
Mr. Charles M. Williams said: "If your Honor please, seventeen years of judicial faithful serv- ire deserver and demands respect and recogni-
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tion. We come today to mingle expressions of congratulation and regret ; congratulation, that you have attained three score years and ten in an active and useful life, conspicuous in the state, full of honor and of years; regret, that the judi- cial terin for which you were elected is abbre- viated by the limitations of the constitution of this state, which compels you to retire from the bench while in the full vigor of your faculties, with judgment ripened by experience, and with in- tegrity and uprightness on the bench tested by years of service.
"You hear your youth as yon Scotch firs, Whose gaunt line our horizon dims, While twilight all the lowland blurs, Hold sunset in their ruddy stems.
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