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 68
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When the war was over Major Wood spent one summer in Renssalaer county, New York, after which he came again to Rochester and later taught school in Hamlin. He purchased the only farin near East Hamlin Station, where he carried on general agrienltural pursuits for ten years and then sold out, afterward turning his attention to the produce business, in which he continued for seventeen years. He was eminently successful in that line.
Major Wood was married in 1868 to Miss Lucy A. Ives, of Reussalaer county, and unto them were born fourchildren, three daughters and a son, but the son, Minor C., who was engaged in the camera business, in which he met with grat- ifying success, died in 1900. The daughters are Nettie E., Harriett P. and Lucy A. The last named is the wife of Fred W. Kramer, of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
In his political views Mr. Wood is a stalwart republican, having stanchly supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of fran- chise. He has been honored with a number of local offices, serving as justice of the pence for fif- teen years, while for three terms he was super- visor. He returned to Rochester in 1888 and has since been a resident of this city. He and his wife belonged to the Baptist church at East Hamlin and the family are now connected with the Central Presbyterian church. Mr. Wood has affiliated with the Masonic fraternity since 1864 and his son was a thirty-second degree Mason and a Shriner. He , has built a beautiful home at No. 28 Birr street, where he and his wife and daughter now reside, and at the present time he is enjoying a well earned rest, having so capably managed his business af- fairs in earlier years that he acquired thereby a snug little fortune that now enables him to rest
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without further recourse to labor. He belongs to one of the oldest families in Monroe county and has sven many changes in Rochester from his boy- hood days to the present. In citizenship he is patriotie and public-spirited, in business was ever found progressive and reliable and his social rela- tions manifest those strong traits of character which win friendly regard.
STEPHEN STACE.
As a hortienltnrist Stephen Stace has gained wide reputation not only in Monroe county but throughout ather sections of the state. He owns a fine farm of tifty acres, which is pleasantly situ- ated in Grvere township, a mile south of Charlotte. All this is devoted exclusively to the raising of fruit, for he has a fine grape vineyard and in addi- tion has a large peach and apple orchard, insides raising large quantities of cherries and various kinds of small fruit.
Mr. Stace is a native of Kent. England, born near the Sussex line, August 20, 1832, a son of George and Jane (Ralph) Stare, both of whom were natives of the latter place. The father diedl when the son was a little lad of three years. In the family were six children: Jane, William Rt. and George, all deceased; Stephen, of this review; Sihon : and Mrs. Sarah Pellet, of Webster, New York. After the father's death, the mother re- mained in the old world for a number of years bit later emigrated to this country and was here married a second time, this union being with James Pellet, of Webster, by whom she had one son. Thomas Pellet. She passed away in Webster.
Soon after the birth of Stephen Stace, his par- euts removed to Sussex, where he lived to the age of nineteen years, He spent a portion of this time on a farm and later had charge of a large master's building. having under his supervision forty men. He began work by wheeling brick but his ability was soon demonstrated and after two weeks he was given full charge for two years, In 1832 he emigrated with his family and a large colony to Ontario. Wayne county. New York, hav- ing himself made arrangements for their passage. He joined his brother-in-law at Ontario but after a brief period spent in that place came to Monme county. settling in Web-ter. where for sixteen veurs he worked in varions capacities. He then purchasedl a farm in Webster township, and re- sided thereon for a few years, but in 1888 disposed of that property and purchased in connection with his brother. William R. Stace, a tract of one hun- dred and sixty neros. Later they divided the land. each laking a portion, but after a time Mr. Stace disposed of a portion of his to a railroad company.
retaining possession of fifty acres, which is his present place of residence. This tract is located on the boulevard, one mile south of Charlotte, in Greece township. When it emme into possession of Mr. Stace it was covered with timber and stumps but he at once began to clear the land, which was eventually developed into a good tract. He has since improved the place with good substantial buildings and devotes it to horticultural pursuits. He has set ont a large grape vineyard, which vields four tons of grapes per acre and for the part twenty-nine years there has not been a failure of fruit. Ile also has three hundred cherry trees, which for the past few years has yielded twelve tons of cherries. He likewise has an apple and peach orchard and large quantities of currants all blackberries, all of which vield an abundant crop. Mr. Stace has made a close study of fruit culture and is numbered among the best horti- culturists of Monroe county, being considered un authority ou all subjects pertaining to the raising of various fruits. His place is valuable, he having refused an offer of forty thousand dollars for it.
Mr. Stace has been instrumental in much of the development and improvement that has placed this section of the country in the front ranks of the commonwealth. He organized a company aud supervised the construction of the Rochester Elec- tric Railroad, which was the first electric line in the state and connected Rochester with Charlotte. and the power house is built on his farm. He was also instrumental in having the boulevard made from Rochester to Charlotte, and for twenty-five years acted as general manager, when the full road was sold to the county. He also spent a great deal of effort in securing good shipping facilities for Charlotte and got the first coal shipped by water through Charlotte. In many ways he has con- tributed to the general progress and prosperity of this community.
At the age of ten years Mr. Stace began making a study of phrenology and in this connection has gained national reputation. He has never charged for his services and has conducted many classes in this study, having one at the Philadelphia Cen- tenuial and at the Columbian Exposition at Chi- rago. lle has been consulted hy thousands of people, including many of the prominent business men of Rochester and other cities.
Although Mr. Stace came as a poor man in. Monroe county, he has through his own industry. perseverance aud economy, accumulated an excel- lent property and a goodly competence. In addi- tion to his valuable farm in Greece township, he alen owns one hundred and sixty acres of land near Baltimore on Chesapeake Bay and also five acres of land near Palatka. Florida, where for the past sixteen years he has spent the winter seasons. He is a repuldican in politics, having voted for every
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STEPHEN STACE.
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presidential candidate of that party since he cast his first vote for Fremont. He is a member of the New York Horticultural Society and in this way keeps in touch with the advance that is being made along horticultural lines.
Mr. Stace has been three times married. He was first married in England to Miss Emily Wil- lard. their wedding being celebrated in 1852. The children of this marriage are as follows: Jane, who was married and at her death left two dangh- ters: George, who makes his home in Rochester and for the past twenty-nine years has been in the employ of the New York Central Railroad; Arte- inesia, the wife of J. B. La Salle, who resides on her father's farm in a separate dwelling; and Al- bert E., of Charlotte. His second union was with Josephine Hortense Wilder, who was a teachcer and his present wife bore the maiden name of Rebecca Patterson,
J. NELSON TUBBS. ยท J. Nelson Tubbs, a consulting engineer of Rochester, New York, was born September 21, 1832, in Schoharie county, this state. He is a son of Jesse A. Tubbs, a farmer. His early educational privileges were afforded by the common schools and were supplemented by study in the academy at Esperance, New York, and in the State Normal school at Albany. He engaged in teaching school for four years and afterward entered the service of the state in connection with the enlargement of the Erie canal in 1854. He was employed at dif- ferent places in the state in this capacity and in 1861 established his home in Rochester, where he has since remained. He continued in the service of the state, however, until 1822, in which year he was appointed chief engineer on the construction of the Rochester water works. Hle also did some surveying about that time and soon afterward was appointed chief engineer and superintendent for the Elmira Reformatory, at the same time contin- uing in the office of chief engineer of the Rochester waterworks, In fact he continued in that capacity for eighteen years or until 1890 and throughout that period was doing work in outside cities as consulting engineer. In 1892 he resigned in order to concentrate his energies more largely upon pri- vate business interests and established an office in Rochester as consulting engineer, since which time he has constructed waterworks in various parts of the state. Hle was chief consulting engi- neer for the construction of the waterworks at Syracuse where water was brought to the city from Skaneateles lake. This was a stupendous undertaking of a most difficult nature and required
most thorough and able understanding of mechan- ical engineering from both a scientific and practi- cal side. Early in 1891 he was appointed execu- tive official of the public works of all canals in the state and for a period of ten years, under the title of general inspector, he maintained his office in Rochester. This period included the time of the first improvement of the canal until the canal had nine feet of water and the appropriation for that purpose was nine million dollars, Mr. Tubbs' connection with the canal ceased in 1905 and since that time he has done more or less in consulting engineering work. He has been called upon as an expert in cases at law in New York and other states, covering questions of mechanical engineer- ing and construction, and is now a member of a commission to decide a proposed route of the Brockport, Lockport & Rochester Electric Rail- road through Brockport. He is regarded not only as a peer but as the superior of the great majority of business men in his line in this part of the coun- try and has been very successful.
Mr. Tubbs was married to Miss Elithea Mandell Wooster, of Esperance, New York, a descendant of General David Wooster, and they now have two sons and a daughter: William N., who is special agent on the canal at Syracuse and who married Gertrude Shuart, daughter of Judge Shuart, of Rochester; Frank W., who is with his father in business; and Josephine Elithea, at home.
Mr. Tubbs has always been a stanch advocate of the republican party since its organization. He has attained the thirty-second degree in Masonry and is a member of varions clubs in Rochester. He has membership relations with the Rochester Engi- newring Society; the American Society of Civil Engineers; the New England Waterworks Asso- riation ; the American Waterworks Association, and many others, but recently he has withdrawn from some of these. Ilis prominence is the out- ward manifestation of an ability that has enabled him to work his way steadily upward. He has done with thoroughness and accuracy whatever his hand has found to do, neglecting no duty, and his fidelity and worth are so widely recognized that he stands today as one of the distinguished me- chanical and consulting engineers of the Empire state.
REUBEN A. DAKE.
Reuben A. Dake is a worthy representative of an old and prominent pioncer family of the Em- pire state and comes of Revolutionary ancestry. He is engaged in gardening and farming on a well improved tract of thirty-eight acres, situated in Irondequoit township. a portion of which was
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the original homestead property. The Dake fam- ily was established in Saratoga county, New York, by the paternal great-grandfather of our subject, William Gould Dake, who removed thence to Liv- ingston county in 1821. Hle was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His son, William Dake, ac- companied his parents on their removal to the former county and there reared his family, which included Dr. Charles A. Dake, who became the father of our subject. He was born in Saratoga enty, and was only ahont two years of age, when, in 1821. he was taken by his parents to Livingston county, where he was reared und acquired his ele- mentary education. Deciding upon the practice of medicine as a life work he went to Buffalo, where he studied allopthy, while his homeopathie training was received in medical schools in Cleve- land and Philadelphia. Locating in Wyoming county. this state. he was the first homeopathic physicinn who ever engaged in practice there. In 1866 he removed from Warsaw to Monroe vonty, where he practically retired from the pro- fession. purchasing twenty-four acres of land in Irondequoit township, which he devoted to fruit culture. His wife bore the maiden name of Maria Roberts and their family numbered two children but the subject of this review is the only surviv- ing member. The father passed away in 1905. when he had reached the very advanced age of eighty-seven years. He became well known in Monroe county, having spent almost three deendes here.
Reuben A. Dake was born in Livingston, New York, in 1844, and was a young man of twenty- one years when he came to Monroe county. lle acquired his education in the common schools and also pursued an academic course. He began farm- ing upon attaining his majority, and has since fol- lowed this pursuit. He is now located on the old family homestead in Irondequait township but has added to the original tract, owning now thirty- eight aeres, ten acres of which is devoted to horti- cultural pursuits, while the remainder is devoted to farming and gardening. Ile carries on his busi- ness affairs in a practical manner and is meeting with unbonded suecres, being numbered among the substantial citizens of this section of the state.
Mr. Dake was united in marriage to Miss Celia E. Campbell, a daughter of Henry and Marietta ( Dyke) Campbell, the latter a untive of Vermont. Her father settled in Rochester in 1828, when a youth of eighteen years, having removed to that city from New York city. For a time he was en- gaged in painting in Rochester Init later took up his abode on a farm in Irondequoit township, de- voting his time and attention to agricultural and horticultural pursuits, His family numbered three children but Mrs. Dake is the only one who now
survives. The father passed away in 1878, while the mother survived for a long period, passing away in June, 1893.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Duke has been blessed with two children. Stella is now the wife of William Hartman, of Rochester, where he fol- lows the tailor's business. She is the mother of three children, Grace E., Ethel M. and William Hartman, Jr. Frank C., the younger of the fam- ily, is nt home.
Mr. Dake formerly gave his political allegiance to the republican party but is now independent, casting his ballot for the men whom he deems best qualified for office, regardless of party affiliation. Ile is a member of the Grange, of which he was the first master. He and his family are members of the North Baptist church at Rochester. Mr. Dake and his estimable wife are genial, cordin! people, whom it is a pleasure to meet, and he is a most loyal and public-spirited citizen, who has gained success by his honorable and straightfor- ward business methods. The Dakes have a family reunion each year and Reuben A. Dake has been president of the society for years.
WILLIAM DAILEY.
The prosperity of any community, town or city depends upon its commercial activity, its indus- trial interests and its trade relations, and therefore among the builders of a town are those who stand at the head of business enterprises. Prominent mong those of Brockport may be mentioned Wil- liam Dailey, produce und grain merchant of this place.
Ile was born in Scottsville, Monroe county, New York, April 14, 1846, and is a son of Jolm and Mary Dailey, both natives of Ireland. In 1836 this worthy couple saw greater opportunities for pursuing agricultural interests in the new world and in consequence set sail with their two sons. Michael and Patrick. They tirst settled in Roches- ter, removed from there to the town of Wheatland and afterward located in Chili, where they lived for the long period of twenty-seven years. At the end of that time they removed to the town of Sweden. where they spent the remainder of their lives. Unto them were born nine children, five of whom are still living, namely: Mrs. James Backns, a resident of Italy; Mrs. James F. Harrison and Mrs. J. D. Mahoney, both of Chicago; Mrs. F. W. Spaulding, of New York city : and William, of this review.
William Dailey was reared on a farm, where he enjoyed the advantages offered by the country schools. About 1876 he embarked in his present business, which has prospered far beyond bis ex- pectations. He began with a very small capital by
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buying up all the produce that came to him and from this beginning has achieved phenomenal sue- cess. He owns large elevators at Brockport and otte at Medinn and is considered the largest buyer of western New York grain in this section of the state. In addition to this he carries on a large business in wool, beans and apples.
On the 28th of February, 1825. Mr. Dailey was married to Miss Jessie Mr-Gary, of Macedon, New York, by whom he has had ten children, nine still living: John F., a large produce merchant of Rochester; Marv Bertha : William G., also engaged in the produce business here; James K .; George R .; Vincent D. ; Donald A. ; J. Oswalt ; and Frank- lin E.
Mr. Dailey is a pioneer in inaugurating and buikling up one of the chief industries of this sec- tion of the country. His connection with any un- dertaking insures a prosperous outcome of the sinne, for it is in his nature to carry forward to successful completion whatever he is associated with. lle has earned for himself an enviable reputation as a careful man of business and in his dealings is known for his prompt and honorable methods, which have won him the deserved and unbounded confidence of his fellowmen.
FREDERICK GUENTHER.
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Frederick Gnenther, the well known florist and gardener, was born in Rochester in 1861. His father, John F. Guenther, a native of Germany, was likewise a well known gardener whose business is now conducted by his son, Frederick. The elder Mr. Guenther was a native of Germany where he was born in 1827 and was early appren- tired to the business which became his life work. Eager to seek larger opportunities and wider fields of industry he emigrated to America in 1852, coming directly to Rochester, where he secured em- ployment with Ellwanger & Barry, in whose inter- est he traveled extensively. In 1881 he established his own business at Park avenue, ten years Inter locating at Blossom Road, Brighton, where he built a handsome residence. Ile and his wife, Helena E. Guenther, a native of Norway, were the parents of Frederick Guenther and of one dangh- ter, Elizabeth, the wife of Alfred Clapper of Rochester. For many years Mr. Guenther was in partnership with George A. Stone, the firm being known as the Continental Nursery Company. They conducted a wholesale and retail nursery business up to the time of Mr. Stone's death. Mr. Gnen- ther sneceeded to the business and carried it on until 1895 when he retired, passing away a few years later in 1904.
The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of this city and had the advantage of Iris father's training and experience in the busi- ness which has been his life work. The Germans Jave always been expert gardeners and it is their methods which the elder Mr. Guenther followel and taught to his son, but the son has not been just a follower of the old country ideas. He is an originator and successful experimenter. For the past few years he has grown many roses and orna- mental shrubs of his seven acre tract at Blossom road. Since 1875 he has added to his other indus- tries and is raising and growing fancy chickens. He was one of the original breeders of the silver laced Wyandottes which he bred up to the year 1896. He has since bred the biff Wyandottes and has taken premiums on his birds at all of the exhibitions at Johnstown. U'tien, Madison Square and other places. It was due to his untiring efforts and de- termination that the Rochester Poultry Show was organized in 1892 with Mr. Guenther as treasurer, an office he kell for seven years.
In 1884 he married Lillian Houser by whom he has one daughter, Mattie E., born March 14, 1892. Mr. Guenther has lwen one of the ward committee members of the republican party for some time and has served his party in various other capaci- ties since he attained his majority. The record of the business life of Rochester would be incom- pleie without a biography of Mr. Guenther who is a sterling business man attentive to his own lines, but who always has leisure to assist in any meas- ure that will add to the advancement or the at- tractiveness of the city.
DAVID K. CARTTER.
David K. Cartter, an accountant of Rochester. was born July 15, 1811, in Riga township, Monroe cointy. his parents being Phederus and Lydia Ann (Wright) Cartier. The mother was a daughter of Samuel Wright, one of the earliest settlers of Chili township, Monroe county. The father, who was born November 6, 1806, was a son of David K. Cartter, who came to this connly in 1813 and purchased land here, after which he returned to Watertown, New York. Finally he brought his family to Monroe comity, where he arrived on the 28th of March, 1814. Ilis wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Hollister. also belonged to one of the pioneer families of this county, and was a sister of George IT. Hollister, a prominent Immuberman of Rochester. After taking up his abode here David K. Cartter followed the mill- wright's trade and assisted in building the first mills in a number of places in the county. He also erected the old Mansion House on State street
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in Rochester. His family numbered five sons and one daughter, of whom Phederus C. was the eldest. Harley H., the second son, now deceased, formerly of Michigan, was the only democratie district judge under Abraham Lincoln. David K. Cartter was chairman of the Ohio delegation at the repub- lican convention held in Chicago in 1860 and nom- inated Lincoln for the presidency. Following the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln he was sent to Peru as minister and afterward was chief justice of the District of Columbia for twenty-five years. James Bruce, one of the most extensive farmers of Wis- consin, settled at Black River Falls and was state senator and member of the legislature from his district, elected on the democratic ticket, for nearly forty years. Elizabeth M. became the wife of the Hon. Dennis Mccarthy, now deceased, formerly of Syracuse, New York, who was state senator from his district, mayor of Syracuse and congressman four terms. The son Dennis is now one of the leading men of Syracuse. George H. was an at- torney, who went to California in 1849 and suf- fered the hardships of that long trip across the plains. His supply of provisions becoming cx- haused, he was forced to kill and eat his mule. Ile landed in Sacramento, became prominent in the history of that section of the country and was elected the first representative from his district to congress, but while on his way to the seat of na- tional government his death occurred and he was buried at Panama.
Phederus Cartter became an attorney, practicing as a member of the firm of Bishop & Cartter in Rochester and in Scottsville. He died June 22, 1865. In the family were six children, four sons and two daughters: Edward P., who is now in the west; Charles, who died in Rochester ; Fred, Mrs. J. D. Weaver and Martha F., all of this city; and David K.
The last named was educated in Penfield Semi- nary and in Satterlee & Benedict's Institute. He afterward became deputy, then special deputy and later collector of customs, in which capacity he served from 1869 until 1875, and he was after- ward collector of customs from 18:5 until 18;9. He has since engaged in business as an accountant. also following farming as a side issue. He resided on a farm in Riga township for several years and has made his home in Rochester since 1905. He was also a dealer in grain for ten years, His busi- ness interests have thus been varied and have been successfully conducted.
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