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 77
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ty years has been a mute witness of the growth of Rochester and the changes which have brought about its present conditions.
T. B. PENGELLY.
That T. B. Pengelly is a self-made man is in- dicated by the fact that when he first emigrated to the new world he worked for a number of years as a farm hand but through energy and perseverance has gradually worked his way up- ward until today he is raising fruit, vegetables and flowers, operating a farm in Irondequoit, on which stands one of the finest residences on the Summerville road. He is now classed among the enterprising citizens of this section of Monroe county. Mr. Pengelly is a native of Devonshire, England, born in 1859, a son of William and Emma (Heaman) Pengelly, both of whom were natives of the mother country, where they spent their entire lives.
T. B. Pengelly remained on the farm through the period of his boyhood and youth and in the schools of his native country acquired his educa- tion. Upon attaining his majority, in 1880, in company with his brother. Henry Pengelly, he emigrated to the new world, and located first in Toronto, Canada, where lived his sister. He se- cured employment on a farm near Toronto, being employed by the month for two years. On the expiration of that period he crossed the border into the United States and settled in Rochester, where he secured employment on the garden farm of I. H. Dewey. During the second year he was made foreman of this farm and continued in the employ of Mr. Dewey for twelve years. During this time he had saved a sum of money sufficient to justify the purchase of land, and accordingly he bought nine acres of his present farmi, to which he has later added a six-acre tract, making altogether fifteen acres. Here he is successfully engaged in raising fruit, vegetables and flowers, and the products of his farm find a ready sale en the city markets. Four years ago he erected a modern residence on his farm, which is con- sidered one of the finest on the Summerville road. The house is supplied with all modern conven- iences and accessories and is one of the up-to-date dwellings of this section of the county.
In addition to his farm, Mr. Pengelly is finan- cially interested in a number of enterprises in this village. He is a director and stockholder in the Irondequoit Coal & Supply Company, having been interested therein since its organization, and he is likewise a stockholder in the Rochester & Lake Ontario Water Company.
Since coming to the new world, Mr. Pengelly has made two trips to his native land and it was on his first trip to this country that he formed the acquaintance of the lady whom he afterward made his wife. She bore the maiden name of Susan Warren and was a native of Devonshire. Their marriage occurred in Rochester, in 1882.
Mr. Pengelly has been a life-long republican and is a charter member of Irondequoit Grange, No. 849, and for the past three years has acted as master of the organization. Hle is a member of the Grace Methodist Episcopal church at Rochester. Coming to the new world as a young man, empty-handed, his life has been one of con- tinuous activity, in which has been accorded due recognition of labor, and today he is nuinvered among the progressive and substantial citizens of his adopted country.
JOHN N. BECKLEY.
John N. Beckley, considered to be one of the ablest lawyers of Rochester, and not unknown in business circles, where the spirit of initiation and organization as well as of execution is demanded, was born in Clarendon, New Orleans county, New York, on the 30th of December, 1848. His edu- cation was acquired in the Brockport Normal Col- legiate School and in the Genesee Wesleyan Semi- nary at Lima, New York, prior to entering the Genesee College, where he completed the work of the freshman and sophomore classes. He entered business life as a teacher, being principal of the public schools at Lanesboro and Rushford, Minne- sota, where he remained for two years. He then decided to enter the legal profession and began to prepare for the bar under the direction of Wake- man & Waters, of Batavia. New York. He was then admitted to the bar in Buffalo in 1875, and practiced for two years in Batavia, after which, in 1877, he came to Rochester, where he has since remained. He was city attorney for two terms and part of the third terin, but in 1886, ere the close of his third term, he resigned in order to de- vote his undivided attention to his private law practice and other business affairs. It was in that year that he became a member of the law firm of Bacon, Briggs & Beckley. The volume and importance of the legal business entrusted to him is the best evidence of his ability and of his devotion to his clients' interests. The consensus of public opinion regarding his law work is most favorable, and while he makes the practice of law his chief interest in the business world, he has for some time past bren interested in suburban trolley lines and is now president of the Toronto, Hamil- ton & Buffalo Railway. He is likewise president
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JHISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
of the Pneumantic Signal Company of Rochester and is one of the promoters of the new Seneca Hotel. In these connections he displays keen dis- vernment and foresight, the habit of analysis which he has acquired in connection with his law prac- tice Wading him to look carefully into any busi- nes situation and to determine with acruracy its possibilities for successful accomplishment.
Mr. Beckley was married to Miss Belle Corwin, a daughter of Stephen M. Corwin, of Brighton. New York, and to them were horn two children hut they lost one son, Herbert B. The surviving som, Walter B., is now superintendent of the Berkley building.
In his political views John N. Beckley is a re- publican und socially he is connected with the Cenesee Valley Club and the Rochester and Whist Clubs. He is also a member of t'hrist ( Episco- pal) church. He is a most congenial and com- panionable gentleman-qualities which win him wurm friendships and his strong determination has formed the basis of his success, so that he stands today as one of the most distinguished lawyers and business men of the western part of the state.
JOHN HAAG.
Jolm Haag is filling the position of postmaster at Lincoln Park, where he is also conducting mer- cantile interests. Om of Monroe county's native sons, he was born in Gates township on the 2tth of October, 1862. His entire life has been passed in this township and in Rochester. He lost his mother when but five years of age. His father, Frank Hang, was a native of Germany and after coming to America reared a family of eight chil- dron, of whom John Haag was the seventh in order of birth. In his boyhood days he attended the public schools until 1859, when at the age of ser- enteen years he started ont in life on his own ar- connt, beginning work on what is now the Buf- falo, Rochester & Pittsburg Railroad. He followed railroading for twelve years or nulil he lost mis right arm in the service. He then started his present business, selling groceries and liquors, and has since continued in this line, receiving a good patronage. On the 23d of September, 1889, he was also appointed postmaster of Lincoln Park and has neted in that enpocity continuously since, giving entire satisfaction in The oble way in which be discharges the duties of the office. He owns the building in which he carries on business and is also the owner of the Johnston Hotel at Lincoln Park on the Buffalo road, which he ererted in 1904. He has made good nse of his opportunities in a business way and as the veurs have gone by has met with a fair measure of success.
In the year IS$4 Mr. Haag was married to Miss Emma K. Watson, a native of New York, and unto them have been born five children: Mar- garet, John 1 .. , Agnes, Helen and Madeline. Hav- ing spent his entire life in this locality, Mr. Haag is well known and is recognized as a man of genu- ine personal worth, who owes his business ad- vancement entirely to his own labors.
JOHN MARTIN.
John Martin, an enterprising farmer of the town of Hamlin. is the owner of ninety acres of productive land and in addition to its cultivation and the raising of fruit he is an extensive buyer and shipper of fruil, cabbage and other vegetables.
Mr. Martin is a native of Monroe county, born March 22, 1865, and is of Trish lineage. His parents. Michael and Bridget (Ward) Martin. were natives of Ireland, born in 1817 and in 1821 respectively. They were married in the land of their birth in 1847 and two years later crossed the Atlantic to the new world. They settled first in Boston, where Mr. Martin worked as a laborer. and on leaving the Hub removed to Whitehall. New York. Later they became residents of Brock- port and eventually took np their abode upon the farm which is now occupied by the subject of this review. Here they located in the year 1857 and the place has since been in possession of the fain- ily. Unto the father and mother were born six children, only one, however, being a native of Ireland.
John Martin contiuned his education, after attending the common schools. in Brockport Nor- mnal School and his wife was also a sindent in that institution. It was on the 4th of March. 1886. that he was joined in wedlock to Miss Katharine Dunevan, who was born July 12, 1864. Mr. Martin bronghi his bride to the old homestead farm and here three children were born unto them : Ethel, on the 26th of October, 1894: Wil- liam, April 25, 1898; and James, Angust 17, 1900.
In the control of his business interests Mr. Martin shows keen discernment as well as un- faltering diligence and his farm of ninety acres is now a valuable property, of which ten acres is devoted to the raising of apples and peaches. He also produces various crops in his fields and ip addition to his farm work he is busily engaged in buying and shipping fruit, cabbage and other vegetables. He ships ahont twenty thousand bar- rels of apples yearly and thus his business has reached extensive proportions, while in its control he displays a spirit of progress and practicability that constitutes a safe basis on which to build snccess.
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JOHN MARTIN.
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Mr. Martin is now serving as supervisor of the town of Hamlin, being elected on the democratic ticket in a town which usually gives a republican majority of about four hundred and fifty. His opponent for the office had twice been elected to the positian by large majorities but Mr. Martin put up a strenuous fight and won. Fraternally he is connected with the Elks lodge, while of the Catholic church he is a communicant.
ARTHUR G. YATES.
There are found many men whose industry has won them success-men who by their persever- ance and diligence execute well defined plans which others have made-but the men who take the initiative are comparatively few. The vaat majority do not see opportunity for the co-ordi- nation of forces and the development of naw, ex- tensive and profitable enterprises and therefore must follow along paths which others have marked out. Arthur G. Yates, however, does not belong to the designated class. The initiative spirit is strong within him. He has realized the possibility for the combination of forces and has wrought along the line of mammoth undertakings until the name of Yates stands, in large measure, for the coal trade. He is one of the lending oper- ators in this great field of labor and well deserves to be ranked among the captains of industry.
His life record covers the period from the 18th of December, 1843. The place of his nativity is East Waverly, then Factoryville, New York, and he is a representative of a dsitinguished English family. His grandfather, Dr. William Yates, was born at Sapperton, near Burton-on-Trent, Eng- land, in 1767, and studied for the medical profes- sion, but never engaged in practice. Being the eldest son in his father's family, he inherited the estate and the title of baronet. Throughout his life he was distinguished as a philanthropist. He was a cousin of Sir John Howard, the philanthropist, and Sir Robert Peel, the statesman, and was him- self one of the most noted benefactors in England at that time. At his own expense he built and eon- ducted an asylum for paupers and for the treat- ment of the insane at Burton-on-Trent. In 1792 he crossed the Atlantic to Philadelphia and was the first to introduce vaccination in this country -- a work to which he devoted much time and money. In 1800 he returned to England, but soon after- ward again came to America and from Philadel- phia, in company with Judge Cooper and Judge Franchot and General Morris, he ascended the Susquehanna river to Unadilla, Butternut creek valley. On that trip he met Hannah Palmer, the daughter of a prominent settler, and after the marriage of the young couple they
returned to England, spending two years in his native land. Having disposed of his estate, Sapperton, to his brother Harry, Dr. Yates came once more to the United States and pur- chased a large estate at Butternuts, now the town of Morris, Otsego county, New York, where he spent his remaining days, his death occurring when he was in his ninetieth year. He was wide- ly respected and esteemed. He spent a large for- tune in carrying out his benevolent ideas and many there were who had reason to remember him with gratitude for his timely assistance. He possessed the broadest humanitarian views and his kindly sympathy was manifest in a most generous, but unostentatious, charity.
Judge Arthur Yates, his eldest son, was born at Butternuts, now Morris, New York, February 7, 1807, acquired a common school education and in 1832 located at Factoryville, New York, where he engaged in merchandising and lumbering, exten- sively carrying on business along those lines for thirty years. He was an active and enterprising citizen and did much to upbuild the beautiful vil- lage in which he made his home. In 1838 he was appointed judge of Tioga county, New York. He was prominent in financial circles, where his word was recognized as good as his bond. With bank- ing and other business interests in Waverly he was actively connected, and was also prominent and in- fluential in social, educational and church circles. His life was very helpful to those with whom he came in contact, and he enjoyed the unqualified regard of all. In January, 1836, Judge Yates was united in marriage to Miss Jerusha Washburn, a daughter of Jeba Washburn, of Otsego county, New York, and they became the parents of seven children. The Judge died in 1880, but the influ- ence of his life and labors is yet felt for good in the community in which he made his home, and where the circle of his friends was almost co-ex- tensive with the circle of his acquaintances.
On the maternal side the ancestry of our sub- ject can be traced back to Henry Glover, of Ips- wich, England, who in 1634 emigrated to New Haven, Connecticut. The fourth of his six chil- dren was John Glover, who removed to Stratford, Connecticut. His son Joliu removed from Strat- ford to Newtown, Connecticut. His third child was Benjamin Glover and it was through the lat- ter's daughter Mabel that the line of descent is traced down to our subject. She became the wife of Dr. Nathan Washburn, of Newtown, Connecti- out, and their son, Zenas Washburn, became a resi- dent of Otsego county, New York. He married Nancy Northrup, the grandmother of our subject, their daughter Jerusha becoming the wife of Ar- thur Yates, of Factoryville, New York.
Arthur G. Yates, the fourth member of the fam- ily of Judge Yates, after acquiring a good educa- tion in his native town and as a student in various
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academies entered myon business life in Rochester in March, 1865, as an employe of the Anthracite Coal Association. He brought to the duties of the new position unfaltering energy, laudable ambi- tion nud a determination to thoroughly acquaint himself with the trade in principle and detail. He remained with that comjmny for two years and laid the foundation upon which he has built the superstructure of his present. success. He began dealing in coal on his own account, constantly en- larging the scope of his activity until he is today one of the foremost representatives of the coal trade of the country. Gradually he has developed the business until his shipments have extended far and wide into northern and western states and into Canada. Ile has built immense shipping docks åt Charlotte, the port of Rochester, and has purchased a leading railway in order to place the fuel upon the market. At an early period in his business career he became a member of the firm of Bell. Lewis & Yates, which was organized for the purpose of mining and shipping bituminons coal from Pennsylvania. Marked snecess attended the enterprise from the start, the firm becoming the largest producer of its class in the I'nited States, As the shipments of the firm were largely over the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg Railmad Mr. Yates conceived and executed the plan of pur- chasing the line. Later he retired from the firm and white carrying ou business individually at Rochester he became interested in the Rochester & Pittsburg Coal & Iron Company, which had been formed ky certain stockholders of the Buffalo. Rochester & Pittsburg Railroad Company. It was not long after this that Mr. Yates, associated with New York financiers, bought out the business of the firm of Bell. Lewis & Yates, thus greatly in- ( rensing his individual holdings. Since that time the combined business of the two firms above men- tioned, together with the railroad affairs, have been managed by Mr. Yates with marked success,
At different times Mr. Yates has been identified with various corporate interests aside from those mentioned. He has served as director or in other officia! capacities in connection with various hank- ing institutions of Rochester and was at one time president of the Rochester Railway Company. Since April, 1890, he has been president of the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg Railroad. Many business concerns of the city have profited by his financial investment. his wise connel aml his sound judgment, hnt more and more largely he has withdrawn from other lines to concentrate his en- ergies upon his mainmoth coal Imsiness and his railroad interests. All affairs have been svetema- tized until the maximum results are reached with minimum expense of time and labor. This is the real secret of success in any laziness-a fact which Mr. Yates thoroughly realized and toward which end he has constantly worked. His success is so
marvelous that his methods are of interest to the commercial world and investigation into his career shows that his actions have ever been based upon the rules which govern unfaltering industry and unswerving integrity. Moreover, he has had the power to bring into harmonious relations various factors in business life, co-ordinating plans and forves in the development of enterprises of great magmende.
On the 26th of December, 1867, Arthur G. Yates was married to Miss Virginia L. Hulden. a daughter of Roswell Holden, of Watkins, New York. Their family numbered five sons and a daughter, but Arthur and Howard I ... the fourth and fifth members of the family, are deceased. Those living ate Frederick W., Harry, Florence und Russell P. Their attractive home on South Fitzhugh street is justly celebrated for its gracious and cimrming hospitality.
The family are communicams of St. Paul's Episcopal church, of which Mr. Yates is the oldest warden, having filled the position for more than three decades. At one time he was a trustee of Rochester University and he is a valued member of various social organizations, including the Genesee Valley Club, the Ellicott Square Club of Buffalo, the Duquesne Club of Pittsburg, the Transporta- ·tion Club of New York and the City Mid Day Chb of New York city, lle is a man of kindly spirit, of generous disposition and of broad lundanitarianism. The areumulation of wealth has never been allowed to affect his rela- tions toward others less fortunate. While he has Dever courted polarity he holds friendship in- violable, and as true worth may always win his re- gard he has a very extensive circle of friends. The public work that lu has done has been performed as a private citizen, yet has made extensive de- mands upon his time, his thought and energies. llis aid is never sought in vain for the betterment and improvement of the city. In his life are the elements of greatness herause of the use he Is made of his talents and his opportunities, his thoughts being given to the mastery of great prob- lems and the fulfillment of his duty as a man in his relations to his fellowmen and as a citizen in his relations to his state and his country.
GEORGE H. ELLWANGER.
George H. Ellwanger, author and scientist, was known in Rochester as secretary of the Ellwanger & Barry Nursery Company, but his reputation ex- tended throughant America and many foreign countries in connection with his authorship. ITis life work was of the utmost value to-his fellowmen
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t: that connection and his writings yet find ready sale.
George Il. Ellwanger was a native of Roches- ter, born July 10, 1818, being the oldest son of the veteran hortientturist. George Ellwanger, Un- doubteilly natural predilection. inherited tendency and early enviroment as well as particular talent and interest in that direction led to his selection of a life work, Ilis preliminary education was con- tinued under private tutorship during a five years' sojourn in Europe and he also studied at the Uni- versity of Heidelberg and the Sarbonne in Paris. Always deeply interested in the study of horticul- ture and floriculture. his investigations were car- ried far and wide into the realms of scientific re- search. while his experiments brought him the practical knowledge that materialized in a thou- sand beautiful forms in his gardens. The charac- ter of his business is indicated by the fact that he was for a number of yra's secretary of the Ell- wanger & Barry Nursery Company. At one time he was editor of the Rochester Post Express. Aside from this, however. much time, thought and at- tention was given to his writings and be was a fre- quent and valued contributor to various horticul- tural papers of Europe and of America. He wrote largely for the Garden and for In Flora and Sylva, two English publications. He is the author of The Garden's Story, or Pleasures and Trials of an . Amateur Gardener (1889) : The Story of My House (1891) : In Gold and Silver ( 1892) : Idyl- lists of the Country-Side (1896) ; Meditations on Gout, with a Consideration of lis Curr Through the Use ,of Wine ( 1898) : Editor of The Rose by 11. B. Ellwanger, revised edition (1893) ; lowe's Demesne, A Garland of Contemporary Love Poems ( 1896), two volumes ; The Pleasures of The Table. An Account of Gastronomy From Ancient Days to Present Times. With a History of Its Lit- erature, Schools and Most Distinguished Artists (1902). At the time of his demise he was working on the second revision of The Rose. The Garden story hrought as high as eighteen dollars per vol- mme in England and is to be republished.
Mr. Ellwanger had the largest collection of ton roses in America, possessing over four hundred va- rieties and was regarded as the great American authority on the standard rose. He was an hon- orary member of the National Rose Society of Eng- lend. a member of the Anthors C'lnb of New York and of the Pundit Club of Rochester, the oldest literary club of America. The degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him by the University of Rochester.
On the 13th of November, 1521. Mr. Ellwanger was married to Miss Harriett Stillson, who was born in Kast avenne. Rochester, a danghier of Rev. Jerome B. and Harriett ( Lawton) Stillson, who were natives of the Empire state. Her father was a son of Eli Stillson, a prominent pioneer of
Rochester, who removed from Connectient to Sci- pio, New York, in 1802, and came to Rochester in 1817. Ile was a civil engineer and assisted in the survey of the Erie canal. His son, Rev. Je- rome B. Stilison, was born in Scipio, New York, in 1812, and was brought to Rochester by his par- ents when five years of age. He began teaching school at the age of eighteen, both studied and taught in the high school and afterward attended Yale University, where he took up the study of civil engineering. He assisted in the survey of the western division of the Eric canal for its en- largement in 1834-5 and he was awarded many contracts for railroad construction in New England and New York. He afterward went to Chicago, where he had a contract for the erection of the government buildings there from 1851 until 1860. After the outbreak of the Civil war he went to the front with the Young Men's Christian Association boys and following the close of hostilities he was engaged in the real-estate Inisiness in Chicago for some years. Later, returning to Rochester, he spent his remaining days in this city, where he died July 2. 1903, at the venerable age of ninety- two years. Following the war he was ordained as a minister of the Episcopal church and was the founder of St. Peter's church of this city.
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