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 78
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I'nto Mr. and Mrs. Ellwanger were born three children: Florence Cornelia, the wife of Boyd Watson, an attorney of Pittsburg. Pennsylvania; Lanra Brooks, the wife of Alexander Otis, an at- torney of Rochester, and Julia Stillson, who is at- tending Mrs. Dow's school at Briar Cliff Manor, New York. The family circle was broken by the death of the husband and father April 23. 1906. His death caused a distinct loss to the world. His life may well be termed a successful one because of the fact that he contributed to the world's prog- ross in scientifie lines und to its pleasures derived from literary sources. He stood as a man among men, honored wherever known and most of all where best known.
JAMES HENRY WILD.
James Hemty Will. now deceased. was well known in Rochester for a long period because of the annual visits which he paid to the city. In- deed he was a merchant here in early manhood and later he never failed to come to Rochester at least once a year, maintaining his friendship with many of its leuling residents. Ile was born in Stockport, New York, on the 9th of November, 1815. James Wild, his father, was a manufacturer of cotton cloth and continued in that business throughout his entire life. He married Miss Jane
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Henry, and while they spent the winter months in New York city, they maintained a summer home at Stockport.
In early life James Henry Wild became a factor in the business circles of Rochester, being one of the first general merchants in this city. He con- ducted a store here at a time when Rochester was a town of little commercial or industrial import- ance and his labors contributed to its business growth. He left here, however, in the '30s, going to New York, but he spent a part of each year here throughout his remaining days. He was very fond of fishing and hunting and indulged his love of those sports in the northern woods.
In 1842 Mr. Wild was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Medbury in Rochester and unto them were born five children : Anna E. M. and Joseph Medbury, and three who died in infancy.
Mr. Wild was deeply interested in political questions and upon the organization of the repub- lican party became one of its stalwart advocates. He did all in his power to promote its growth and insure the adoption of its principles and his labors in its behalf were effective and far-reaching. For several years he was in the government employ in New York. He took an active interest in public affairs and served as senator for one term. He attained to the very venerable age of ninety-two years, passing away on the 8th of January, 1907. Throughout his entire life he had lived in the Empire state and was closely associated with its interests of a business and public nature. He pos- sessed the genial disposition and kindly spirit of the old school gentleman, nor was he without that human interest in his fellowmen which promotes friendships and awakens regard.
M. S. CORWIN.
M. S. Corwin, born in Connecticut in 1817, passed away in Rochester in November, 1904. His mother bore the maiden name of Moore. He re- ceived his education in the public schools, spend- ing his vacation time in agricultural pursuits. In 1844 he removed to Rochester, where he purchased the old Bloss farm and carried on general farming for forty years. He added many improvements to this land and erected a number of buildings. The place was always well kept and held out cor- dial hospitality to the many friends who visited there. Mr. Corwin later rented his farm and moved to this city, where he spent his remaining years. The farm was sold to Brown Brothers, who have there established their large office and nursery business.
The wife of our subject was Miss Sarah A. Riley, born on Blossom street in Brighton and edu-
cated at the Clover Street Seminary. She was a niece of General Riley and daughter of Justin Riley, of Brighton. One of her sisters, May Riley Smith, is a well known writer and lecturer in New York city, and another sister is Mrs. General Fitzsimmons of Chicago. To Mr. and Mrs. Cor- win was born one daughter, Mrs. J. M. Beckley, who resides in this city.
Politically Mr. Corwin was a stanch republican and was ever ready to aid his party during its campaigns. His was an earnest and consistent Christian life and we are glad to mark our appre- ciation of such a man-a man true in every rela- tion of life, faithful to every trust and seeking always the public good.
ISAAC J. FISHER.
Isaac J. Fisher, president and treasurer of the I. J. Fisher Furniture Company, which business he established fifteen years ago in Rochester, was born in Williamson, Wayne county, New York, June 11, 1862. His parents, Isaac and Martina (Hamlink) Fisher, were both natives of Holland. The father came to the United States at the age of eighteen years and for a long period devoted his time and energies to farming in Wayne county. He is still living at the age of eighty-two years but his wife passed away sixteen years ago when sixty-two years of age. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom nine still survive.
At the usual age Isaac J. Fisher became a stu- dent in the public schools of his native town and passed through consecutive grades until he entered the high school. His education completed, he re- mained a resident of Wayne county until about twenty-five years of age, when in 1887 he came to Rochester and entered the employ of the Rochester Furniture Company, with which he continued until he established business on his own account fifteen years ago. He was the organizer and pro- moter of the I. J. Fisher Furniture Company, in- corporated, of which he is the president and treas- urer. The business is one of the substantial fac- tors in the manufacturing circles of Rochester and from the beginning the enterprise has been at- tended with constantly growing success, attribut- able to the careful management and business dis- cernment of the president and his close study of the market and the public needs.
In March, 1893, Isaac J. Fisher was married to Miss Sara Gosnell, a daughter of James Gos- nell, of Rochester, and they have five children. Mr. Fisher belongs to the Rochester and to the Masonic Clubs. He is prominent in Masonry, holding membership with Genesee Falls lodge, No. 507, F. & A. M., while in the Scottish Rite he has attained the thirty-second degree. He is also a
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ISAAC J. FISHER.
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member of Damascus Temple of the Mystic Shrine. His interests are those of a public- spirited citizen and progressive business man, who watches the trend of the times in regard to public progress and endorses many measures that have for their basis the welfare and upbuilding of the community as well as the promotion of national progress. Aside from his business affair- in Rochester he is interested in mining and other commercial enterprises.
MAJOR JOSEPH P. CLEARY.
Major Joseph P. Cleary, who has departed this lite, was born in Limerick, Ireland, ou the 11th of March, 1844, and came to Rochester alone in 1857 when a youth of but thirteen years. He had a brother, M. F. Cleary, who arrived here before him and was a nurseryman in Greece, New York. Major Cleary remained with his brother for some time and afterward went to Chicago, where he remained until 1860, when he returned to Roches- ter and again became comected with horticultural pursuits and the nursery business, being in the employ of C. J. Mills. In 1861 he was in the employ of E. Stone as a farm hand and at the same time was attending night school at Hopper's Hill. When the enll for troops was made, however, his patriotic spirit was aroused within him and he offered his aid to the government, enlisting as a member of Company E, Thirteenth Regiment New York Volunteers, on the 25th of April. He was in the battles of Blackburn's Ford, first Bull Run, the siege of Yorktown. Hanover Courthonse, Mechanicsville, Gaines Mills and the second battle of Bull Run. He was taken prisoner at Gaines Mills but was exchanged on the 6th of Angust, 1862, and rejoined his regiment. On the 30th of August following he was wounded and again taken prisoner but on the 12th of December was ex- changed and joined his regiment at the battle of Fredericksburg. That command was mustered out in Mav. 1863, and on the 29th of June Mr. Clearv re-enlisted as orderly sergeant in the Fourteenth New York Henvy Artillery. Ile was promoted in a short time and as first lieutenant took part in the battles of Cold Harbor, Spottsylvania, North Anna River, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad and Pegram's Farm. where he was promoted to a captaincy. while for gallant conduct displayed in the attack on Fort Steadman he was brevetted major. At the close of the war he was mustered out as major and brevet lientenant-colonel.
When the war was over Mr. Cleary returned to Rochester, and soon afterward went back to Ire- Iand upon a visit to his people and his native land. When he again came to this city he joined the
Rochester police force, being appointed a patrol- man and he served successively as detective, lien- tenant, assistant captain, captain and superinten- dent, acting as chief of police for twenty years. He drilled the force for seventeen years and had a most thoroughly organized and efficient police force. In this connection he did splendid service for the city. laboring untiringly to hold the law- less element in subjection and to render life and property safe, He continued in the position until the 1st of March, 1905, when he retired and his death occurred very soon afterword, for he passed away on the 25th of April, 1905.
Major Cleary was equally well known in politi- cal, social and fraternal circles. He was a repub- lican in politics and at all tunes stood loyally by the party which was the defender of the Union in the dark days of the Civil war. He was a mem- ber of the Young Men's Club of St. Luke's church an also a member of the Genesee Valley lodge and other societies. He belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. to the Knights of Pythias and to Valley lodge, No. 109, A. F. & A. M., while in the Scottish Rite he attained the thirty-second degree. He was also very prominent in military circles and rose to high rank in the Grand Army of the Republic. He became a member of O'Rourke post. G. A. R., in 1868, and was the first commander of E. G. Marshall post. After receiv- ing all the minor honors he was unanimously elected at Syracuse, in February, 1892, to be de- partnient commander of the Grand Army of the Republic of this stute. He was for six years presi- dent of the Western New York Veterans' Associa- tion and was a member of the Monroe County Union Ex-prisoners of War Association.
On the 12th of September, 1823, Mr. Cleary was united in marriage to Miss Anna Patterson, who was born on Spring street in Rochester and is a daughter of Richard Patterson, who came to this county in an early day from Bantray, Ireland. where he was born. He had charge of the men who quarried the stone for the old aqueinet here. Mrs. Cleary has a niece, Mary A. Wolcott, who is living with her. For many years Mrs. Cleary has been one of the managers of the Oxfords Home and she was department president of the Women's Relief Corps for many years. She is very active in many lines of charitable and benevolent work and is ever ready to do a good deed or speak a kind word as opportunity offers. She has been one of the members of the board of the Andersonville Prison Society, which is now engaged in the land- able purpose of making a beautiful park, and she is a member of St. Luke's church. In 1824 Major Cleary purchased land at No. 26 Caledonia avenue and soon afterward built the home which he ocen- pied until his death and which is still his wife's place of residence. Their only child. Harriett. died in infancy, and Major Cleary was one of the
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best known men of the city and a splendid repre- sentative of its official service, giving an adminis- tration in the police department which was most commendable, winning him uniform commenda- tion and approval.
LEVI G. AUTEN.
Levi G. Auten, having for fifty-five years re- sided upon the farm which is still his home, is devoting his time and energies to general agricul- tural pursuits and in addition raises considerable fruit and is engaged in bee culture in the town of Chili not far from Scottsville. Hle has long since passed the psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten, for his birth occurred on the 8th of June, 1830, but he is still a factor in the active affairs of life, giving personal supervision to the work that is daily carried forward on his farm. . native of the locality in which he still resides, his parents were James V. and Phoebe (Giles) Auten, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter of Seneca county, New York. In 1817 the father came to Monroe county, settling in Chili township, not far from the present home farm of his son Levi. He was born in 1795 and his wife in 1802. His father was Paul Auten, who also came to Mon- roe county in 1817 and purchased sixty-four acres of land, to which he afterward added. James V. Auten continued a resident of Monroe county for sixty years and was here married to Phoebe Giles, on the 14th of August, 1828. He then took up his abode upon the farm where occurred the birth of his son Levi, and at various times lived in different places in the town of Chili. He died, however, in the house now ocenpied by our subject, being called to his final rest June 15, 1877, having for two months survived his wife, who passed away on the 3d of April of that year. His early political alle- giance was given to the whig party, while later he supported the Know Nothings and afterward be- came a democrat. His last vote, however, was cast for the candidates of the republican party. His change in political allegiance was indicative of the character of the man, who always faithfully upheld his honest convictions, nor was he afraid to change his mind when he became convinced that it was the wiser course. Both he and his wife were de- voted members of the Presbyterian church. He was a true Christian man and a great Bible stu- dent, being possibly the best posted man on biblical history in his section of the county. His religion was a part of his everyday life and at all times he attempted to follow closely the Golden Rule. The family numbered six children, of whom four are yet living : Levi G .; Abram S., a resident of
Michigan ; John G., of the same state ; and William G., of Rochester.
In the common schools Levi G. Auten acquired his education and at the age of eighteen started out upon an independent business venture. He had, however, been hired out by his father from the age of nine years, when he began working at three dollars per month. Gradually his wages were in- creased as his age and strength permitted him to perform more and more labor and to assume greater responsibilities. Ambitious to own prop- erty, he carefully saved his earnings and in 1856 he and his wife came into possession of thirty-eight acres where he now lives. He has since resided upon this farm and has brought it under a high state of improvement and development. He car- ries on general farming, raises considerable fruit and is quite extensively engaged in bee culture, having a large apiary which produces much honey annually. His farm is pleasantly located twelve miles from Rochester and two and a half miles north of Scottsville.
In 1853 Mr. Auten was married to Miss Eliza- beth Sheffer, a daughter of Levi and Aravilta (Austin) Sheffer. The father was born on what is known as the Sheffer tract April 16, 1802, and was a son of Peter Sheffer, who came to Monroe county from Pennsylvania, casting in his lot with the pioneer settlers of this county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Auten was born a daughter, Ellen F., whose birth occurred April 2, 1856, but who died October 19, 1870. Since 1878 Lillian M. Sheffer has been a member of the household and still resides with Mr. Anten, who otherwise would be alone, his wife having died on the 17th of February, 1906, after they had traveled life's journey together for more than fifty years in a close and pleasant companion- ship which indicated their congeniality of taste and temperament.
In his political views Mr. Auten was originally a whig and upon the dissolution of that party be- came a stalwart republican. He served as con- stable for nine years, for a short time was deputy sheriff, for two years was game constable and was overseer of the poor for twenty years. He has always taken an active interest in educational work and the system of public instruction has found in him a stalwart champion. For thirty years he has been a loyal member of the Odd Fellows society, for a similar period has been connected with the Grange and for two decades has been a member of a temperance society, which indicates his views upon the temperance question, Mr. Auten is a very active man for seventy-eight years, has a won- derful memory and is most entertaining in his re- miniscences of the experiences and events of the early days. In whatever relation of life he has been found and in whatever locality known, he has won and merited the full respect of all with whom he has come in contact. He is today a
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representative, in both the paternal and maternal lines, of very old families of the county and his record is one which reflects credit upon an honored ancestry, while in his active business interesis he is carrying forward the work which was instituted by his grandfather and continued by his father.
ISAAC A. BAUML.
Isaac A. Baum is president of the Ideal Couch & Casket Company, at No. 120 Mill street, Roches- ter. He was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1852, and was there reared. He came to this city in 1874 when a young man of twenty-two years. He had no acquaintances here but depended npon his worth, as manifested in close application and untiring diligence, in securing a position. He be- came bookkeeper and cashier for Paine, Berry & Company, of New York, in the '60s, which was his introduction into business life. He was quite a young lad at this time. He remained with the firm for six years, a fact which is indicative of his faithfulness and earnest labor. Gradually he worked his way upward and this gave him courage to start in business in Rochester. After he re- moved to this city, he was employed as representa- tive for several importers and manufacturers selling goods to the dry-goods and clothing trade. He had an office with James McDonel & Company and later with Stein, Adler & Company. In 1883 he bought out Samuel Stein and engaged in bnsi- ness with his two sons as manufacturers of caskets. He was treasurer of the company for eight years, on the expiration of which period he formed the National Casket Company to which the firm sold ont. He went to Albany, New York, and secured the incorporation of the National Couch & Casket Company. Soon afterward he went to Eur-pe where he remained for one year, after which he returned and became connected with the Ideal Conch & Casket Company, purchasing fifty per cent of the stock. He remained in that business connection until May, 1906, when he sold out but again started into the business on the first of December following. He has built up the business from a small beginning and has made the enter- prise here a very successful one. He is still a stockholder in the National Casket Company. He is a man of great business ability who forms plans readily and is determined in their execution. He seems to realize the obstacles and disadvantages as well as the opportunities and the possibilities and thus to value correctly the chances of suc- cess.
Mr. Baum was married in 1879 to Miss Mollie Wile. of Rochester, who was born and reared here
and is a representative of an old pioneer family of this city. Mr. Baum purchased a lot of William Webb and in 1890 erected a beautiful home on East avenue. He is a republican in politics and is a member of the Rochester Club and of the Eureka Club and is a prominent Mason. He was one of the trustees of the temple during and after the time of its construction and was one of the officers at the time of the building of the Eureka ('lub and was an officer of the Phoenix Club dur- for the way he has advanced, for he started out in life empty-handed at an early age. He worked untiringly and persistently, giving practical dem- onstration of his worth, and as the years have passed by he has gradually advanced until he has long since left the ranks of the many and stands among the successful few.
G. E. FILLINGHAM.
While the race is not always to the swift nor the battle to the strong, the invariable law of destiny accords to the tireless, energetic individual a successful career. The truth of this is happily verified in the life of G. E. Fillinghamn, born in Oakland county, Michigan, in 1852. Ilis father was Edward Fillingham, a well known farmer of Michigan. His son, who is the subject of thi sketch, was educated in the district schools spend ing his summer months working in the fields on his father's farm. But he was not much attracted by agricultural pursuits and one summer began learning the carpenter's irade which proved su attractive to him that he has since followed it continually. He came to Union Hill, New York, in 1834 and in 1876 to Webster, where he learned still more in his chosen occupation. He has built up an extensive business, doing work in Roches- ter, Irondequoit and Brighton, where he has just completed a large dairy plant. He built both the store and house belonging to F. M. Jones, the handsome home of A. J. Pratt and homes of E. W. Baneroft and Mr. Merz. He is proficient in all varieties of the building contract work and employs at present some twenty men.
In Webster. in December, 1874, occurred the marriage of our subject to Mary C. Langdon, the daughter of Perry Langdon who came here in the early days and settled on a farm. Five children have been born to this union, four boys and one girl. Fred L., who married a daughter of George Stration, lives in Rochester and has two sons: George Morris: Edmund : Raymond; and Grace, who is the wife of Charles Wright, of Detroit, Michigan.
The cause of eduention has always found in Mr. Fillingham a warm supporter and be was a mem-
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ber of the school board for nine years and one of the building committee when the new school buibling was erected. He himself built the last aklition. In politics he is a democrat. He is a member of the Baptist church and helped to organize the first lodge of Maccabees in this city. He was elected the first commander of the same and served in its various offices since that time. That he is of value to his community is evidenced by the fact that he was elected president of the village of Webster in March, 190G. un office he filled from the time the town was incorporated.
So many boys follow mechanically in their father's footsteps that it is refreshing to find one who strikes out for himself in that for which he is best fitted. That Mr. Fillingham chose wisely cannot be doubted for he has spent twenty-five years successfully working in his chosen trade.
EDMUND LOUIS ALBRIGHT.
Edmund Louis Albright, as president of the Se- curity Building Company, has been an active factor in the material improvement and develop- ment of Rochester. In this connection he has carried out his projects with such industry that he is credited with the erection of many buildings which are an ornament to the city, pleasing to the eve and constructed with conscientious regard for real utility aud the comfort and health of their inmates. His work as a contractor met with cor- dial and general appreciation, as evidenced by the attractive edifices, and the name of Mr. Albright is well known in connection with building opera- tians.
A native of Steuben county, New York, he was horn in 1862, a son of Mathias Albright. In early life he acquainted himself with the builder's trade after acquiring a good practical English education, and has since been connected with this great de- partmeut of industrial activity. After thoroughly mastering the business he began contracting and soon seenred a liberal patronage. He made an excellent reputation for thoroughness and relia- bility in executing the terms of a contract and many fine and substantial structures of the city stand as monuments to his enterprise and indus- try. This is a period of marked evolution in busi- ness and Mr. Albright has kept abreast with the times. Secing an opportunity for further develop- ment in building circles, he joined with others in the organization of the Security Building Con- pany, which now has its offices at 1005-6 German Insurance building. Mr. Albright instituted the movement in 1902 and has been president of the company from its organization. This is a co- operative organization seenring for its members
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