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 83
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Captain Samuel L. Brooks was married to Pheha Beers, who was born in 1761-2 in Dan- bury, Connectiont, and died January 9. 1848, at the age of eighty-six years in Penfield, New York. They had four children: Lewis, Lemuel, Ellis and Garry. Of this family Lewis Brooks, horn in 1793, died at Rochester, Angust 9, 1877. He came to Monroe county from Connecticut in 1822 at the age of twenty-nine venrs. He was exceed- ingly modest and retiring.in disposition and rare- ly confided his affairs to others. Ho first engaged in Rochester in the manufacture of woolen eloth and later followed merchandising. In 1844, with Asa Spragne, he built Congress Hall. His in- vestments were in good railroad and like seenri- ties and he also owned much valued property in Rochester, his last years being devoted to his in- vestments and the supervision of his real estate. He was a great reader, well informed and much interested in historical and scientific matters. He never accepted but one office, serving as alderman in 1897 in the first common council of Rochester He was charitable to an eminent degree and al- most literally followed the precept not to let the left hand know what the right doeth. His bene- factions to the poor and needy were almost num- herless and to different educational institutions he gave generously, the Lewis Brooks Museum of Natural Science of the University of Virginia hr. ing named in his honor in recognition of a gift of one hundred and twenty thousand dollars to the institution. Rev. Lemuel Brooks, born in Brook- field. Connecticut, in 1797, died in Churchville. New York, September 21. 1881. His wife. Mrs. Maria Brooks, died in Rochester. Rev. Brooks devoted his life to the ministry and to work for mankind, and. after the death of their brother Lewis, he and his brother, Garry Brooks. each
gave twenty-two thousand dollars to complete the museum in the state of Virginia.
In the maternal line the ancestry of Garry Brooks can be traced back to Captain Richard Beers, Jr., who had a brother, James, Both were residents of Gravesend, County Kent, England, and James had two sons, James and Anthony. He was a mariner and died in 1632, after which his brother, Captain Richard Beers, with the two sons of James Beers, came to America, locating at Watertown, Massachusetts. Captain Richard Beers was an original proprietor of Watertown; freeman, March 16. 1636-7; selectman, 1611 to 16:5; representative thirteen years. 1663 to 1675. Hle was a captain in King Philip's war and was slain by the Indians at Northfield, Massachusetts, September 4, 1675. His will was probated Or- tober 5. 16:5, his entire estate to go to his wife Elizabeth. The ekilest of their seven children was Elnathan Beers, who was born in 1648 and died in 1696. In 1681 he married Sarah Tainter. who was born November 20, 1657. They had five chil- dren, their eldest son being Elnathan Beers, who was born February 1;, 1680-1. He was married in 1222-8 to Anna Beach and their third child and second son was Peter Beers, who was baptized in April, 1734. The place of his birth was Stratford. Connecticut, and there he was married April 13, 1:58, to Eunice Booth. They had seven children : Anna, born in 1759; Sarah, born June 30, 1760: James, April 23, 1:62: Rachel, in August, 1764; Pleba, who was baptized February 18, 1767: Peter, who was baptized March 21, 1769 ; and Ash- hel, in April. 1782. It was Pheba Beers of this family who became the wife of Captain Sainnel Tewis Brooks and the mother of Garry Brooks.
Garry Brooks is today the only survivor of his father's family. At the usual age he became a public-school student in Connecticut but when still quite voung started out to make his own way in the world, being but a lad when apprenticed to a tailor in Litchfield to learn the cutter's trede. Before he had completed his apprenticeship his parents removed to western New York and pur- chased a farm in what is now the town of P'en- field, Monroe county. When his term of inden- ture was ended Garry Brooks joined his parents in western New York, making the journey to this point hy way of the Erie canal. He landed first at Fullamtown, a port on the canal between Fair- port and Rochester and which was then larger than Fairport. Almost immediately he went to live with his parents on the farm, where he re- mained continuously until his retirement from active life in 1867, since which time his residence has been in Fairport. He comes of a race in whom the warlike spirit in defense of honest con- victions has ever been prominent and the soldier instinct showed itself in Garry Brooks while he was yet a boy. Following his removal to Monroe
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county he became identified with a militia com- pany and rose through various grades, eventually becoming captain. The soldiery at that time were termed minutemen from the fact that they were likely to be called forth at a minute's notice to enter upon active service. In consequence, it was necessary for an applicant to pass a government inspection and examination before he was ad- mitted to the militia and after his acceptance he had hard work in learning the manual of arms and mastering military duties. Four or five times each year there were "general training days," when several companies would assemble at a given point for further instruction under field officers. Captain Brooks mastered all the details and it is said that his company went through its paces more like regulars than militiamen. It is one of the Captain's cherished memories that in 1835 he won a silver eup and pitcher for having the best drilled company in western New York. The state also presented him with a gold mounted sword.
It was about this time that Captain Brooks was united in marriage to Miss Emma Chauncey, a direct descendant of Charles Channeey, the cele- brated president of Harvard College, who died in 1672. Mrs. Brooks was born and reared in Connecticut but at the time of her marriage was living with her parents a short distance west of Rochester. She remained a faithful companion and helpmate to her husband for many years but they were separated by death on the 26th of Orto- ber, 1889. They had four children, three of whom survive: Lewis S., who resides on the west side of Main street at the summit of the hill at the south end of Fairport : Mrs. Fanny I .. Harris and Mrs. Emma J. Saleno, also of Fairport.
Captain Brooks had two brothers, Rev. Lemuel Brooks, of Churchville, and Lewis Brooks. of Rochester. At the time the construction of what is now the main line of the New York Central into Rochester was contemplated, the three brothers became interested in the project and were instru- mental in securing most of the right of way for the proposed railroad between Rochester and the Wayne county line. The three brothers were also greatly interested in higher education and gave liberally for the support and maintenance of sev- eral educational institutions, including Oberlin College. Beren College, the University of Virgina. Lake Forest University at Lake Forest, Illinois. Tabor College of Iowa, and also the Auburn Theo- logical Seminary. Captain Brooks likewise joined with others in building the Penfield Academy and has ever been a stanch friend of the cause of education in Monroe county. Moreover, he has stood for development and improvement along other lines resulting beneficially to the county and his efforts have ever been of a practical. resultant character. Seventy-five years have passed since
Captain Brooks proudly cast his first presidential vote. He has regarded it as the duty as well as the privilege of the American citizen to exer- cise his right of franchise and upon the organiza- tion of the republican party he championed its cause and has since been one of its stanch advo- cates. His is indeed a notable career, not only by reason of longevity but also by reason of the fact that there is so little that can be said against him. No life is absolutely free from mistakes but none have ever questioned the honesty of his mo- tives or his fidelity to a course that he has believed to he right. He is a broad-minded man, has al- ways looked upon the world from the bright side of life, has made the most of his opportunities, has used his powers to an unusual degree for the benefit of others, and now in the late evening of life can look upon the past without regret and to- ward the future without fear.
When asked what he would most like to say on the occasion of the one hundredth anniversary of his birth. Captain Brooks look up a small hymn book that was published in London, and turning to one of the hymns said :
"I think that this hymn hest expresses my thoughts at this time." This is the hymn :
When we survey the wondrous cross On which the Lord of glory died, Our richest gain we count but loss, And pour contempt on all our pride.
Our God forbid that we should boast, Save in the death of Christ, our Lord; All the vain things that charin us most, We'd sacrifice them at His word.
There from His head. His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flowed mingled down; Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorne compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature ours, That were an offering far too small; Lowve that transcends our highest power. Demands our soul. our life, our all.
LEANDER MEAD SHAW.
Leander Mead Shaw. in point of service the oldest undertaker in the state, was born in Fair- port, New York, June 1. 1837, and is the only son of Edward I. and Melissa M. ( Hall) Shaw. The father was born in Hillsdale. New York, in 1804. and came to Fairport in 1835, here learn- ing the blacksmith's trade. He was engaged in
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L. M. SHAW.
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this occupation a short time when he began busi- ness as the owner of a livery. A little later he added to this the undertaking department with which he was identified during the active years of his life. In politics he was a republican, for many years holding some bwal office in Fairport, where he was one of the best known and most esteemed citizens and where he passed away in 1880.
The subject of this sketch was reared in Fair- port, the village of his birth, and was educated in the public schools and in the Macedon New York Academy. In his early years he assisted his father in the undertaking business, so that when his edu- cation was finished he took the entire responsibil- ity of this department. Mr. Shaw's efficiency and his kindly and sympathetic manner have made his services as an undertaker very valuable through- out the county, as is evidenced by the fact that he has buried over six thousand persons. He is still living in the saine house which his father built in 1849.
On October 14, 1867. he was married to Miss Josephine E. Pierce, of Columbus, Pennsylvania. She came to Fairport in 1866 and for two years was principal of the high school at this place. he- ing the only woman to hold that position. She has always been connected with educational af- fairs. For the forty years of their married life Mr. and Mrs. Shaw have been identified in all the movements that have contributed to Fairport's progress. They are interested in its social and business welfare and have won many friends, who willingly acknowledge their sterling worth. In politics Mr. Shaw has given his support to the re- publican party, and he has served two terms as village trustee. He has been repeatedly asked to run for office, but has always declined. Frater- nally he is a member of Fairport lodge. No. 476, A. F. & A. M., which he joined in 1862. He is also a member of Rochester lodge, A. & A. S. R. he has the reputation of being an enthusiastic sportsinan and angler and makes two trips an- nnally to the Adirondacks, where he belongs to a large hunting club.
GILMAN HILL PERKINS.
When death claimed Gilman Hill Perkins on the 16th of November. 1898, Rochester mourned the loss of a citizen whom it had long known and honored, whose life had constituted an integral chapter in her history and whose memory is cher- ished as one whose influence was ever on the side of the city's substantial development and growth along business, intellectual and moral lines.
He was born in Geneseo, March 4, 1827, and in the spring of 1832 went to live with his grand-
mother in Bethlehem. Connectient, owing to the death of his mother, when he was but four years of age. Two years later when his father married again he returned home. He began his educa- tion in the schools of Connecticut and after re- turning to Geneseo was for three years a pupil in the district school there. Between the years 1837 and 1842 he was a student in the Temple Hill Academy but left school at the age of fourteen venrs to enter business life. The first money which he ever earned came to him during the periods of vacation for service in the county clerk's office in comparing mortgages and deeds for Samuel P'. Allen, afterward a resident of Rochester. He also folded the Genesen Republican for Mr. Allen, its editor, on Saturday afternoons for nearly a year. for which work he received twenty-five cents per week. This was long prior to the time when in- vention attached folders to newspaper presses. On permanently leaving school at the age of four- teen years Mr. Perkins entered the book store of John Turner, where he worked for six months at twelve shillings per week. He had been in the store only a few weeks when his employer died and at the age of fifteen he assumed the management of the store and was given entire charge for half a year.
Mr. Perkins arrived in Rochester on the 19th of March. 1814. He was the possessor of two suits of clothes and three dollars in money. At nine o'clock in the evening he had left Genesen as passenger on a stage coach, arriving in Roches- ter at eight o'clock the following morning. The rity was small and of little commercial or indus- trial importance as compared with its present con- ditions, but Mr. Perkins saw here the opportunity for business advancement. He sought and sp- enred employment in the wholesale grocery house of E. F. Smith & Company, where he remained until the spring of 1847, when he was compelled to leave on account of ill health. He then secured a situation at the "Old Red Mill." owned by Harry B. Williams. This gave him less arduous employment and enabled him to spend much time out of doors in driving about the country buying wheat. His health improved in this way and in 1848 he re-entered the employ of E. F. Smith & Company as clerk, gradually working his way up- ward until on the 1st of January, 1852. he was admitted to a partnership in the business. Later the firm style of Smith & Perkins was assumed and subsequently that of Smith, Perkins & Company. At the time of his death Mr. Perkins had for many years been president of the firm. There was nothing spectacular in the growth of the business. It came through laborious effort during the long years and was one of the marked instances of suc- cessful business development on the solid basis of merit. As president, Mr. Perkins carefully con- trolled its interests, watching the markets and
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the indications of trade and ever maintaining a commercial poliey that was unassailable from the standpoint of integrity and fair dealing.
His efforts were not confined alone to the whole- sale grocery business, however, for he became a valued factor in the promotion and conservation of many leading business enterprises of the city. In 1879 he was made a trustee of the Rochester Savings Bank and so continned until his death. He was an officer and director of the Union Bank from 1858 and a trustee of the Rochester Trust & Safe Deposit Company from 1888. Upon the organization of the Srenrity Trust Company in 1891 he became one of its trustees and was also a director of the Genesee Valley Railroad and the Rochester Gas & Electric Company.
When a young man enters into the life of any community his actions are closely watched as an indication of character and purposes and his re- ception in business and social circles is determined thereby. Mr. Perkins had not long been a resi- dent of Rochester before the consensus of public opinion became favorable and throughout the years he grew in the respect and confidence of his fellowmen and there was naught in his life to dis- tnrb their perfect trust. During the first seven or eight years of his residence here he attended the First Presbyterian church and during a part of that time was a member of the choir. In 1852 he took a seat with John Rochester, William Pit- kin, Edward Smith and Frederick Whittlesey in one of the old box pews at one end of the choir in St. Luke's, where he had his seat until his marriage. lle served as a vestryman of St. Luke's from 1858 until 1869 with the exception of the vears 1864-5. In 1869 he was chosen a warden of the church and so continned until his death. He was, moreover, deeply interested in the various ac- tivities of the church and in mich charitable and benevolent work. He served as a trustee of the State Industrial School, was a trustee of the City Hospital and also of the Reynolds Library. He took a deep and public-spirited interest in com- munity affairs and aided in the furtherance of various projects for the public good. Ile was a member of the Hemlock water works commission, which furnished the city its first pure water sup- ply, and in 1892 he was chosen a presidential elector on the republican ticket. He was a mein- ber and one of the founders of the Genesee Val- ley Club and at one time served as its president.
In 1856 Mr. Perkins was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Erickson, a daughter of Aaron Eriekson, and theirs was largely an ideal home life. They became the parents of four sons and four daughters and the following still survive: Erickson and Gilman N., who are prominent busi- ness men of Rochester : Carolyn. now Mrs. Thorn- ton Jeffrees : Berenice, Mrs. H. V. W. Wickes ; and Gerirnde, Mrs. John Craig Powers.
Mr. Perkins ever hold friendship inviolable, while the best traits of his character were reserved for his own fireside. At his death expressions of regret were heard on every hand throughout Rochester and wherever he was known and resolu- tions of respect were adopted by the trustees of the Rochester Savings Bank, the directors of the Union Bank, the trustees of the Union Trust Company, of the Rochester Trust & Safe Deposit Company and of the vestry of St. Luke's church, with which he had been identified for more than forty years. While he was a remarkably success- ful business man and contributed in large measure to Rochester's advancement in this direction, it was his own personal traits of character, his kind- liness, his geniality, his consideration and his un- faltering honor that endeared him so closely to those who knew him. "Not the good that comes to us but the good that comes to the world through us is the measure of our success." and judged in this way Gilman Hill Perkins was pre-eminently a successful tan.
WILBER J. MANDEVILLE.
Wilber J. Mandeville, deceased. was born in Webster, Monroe county, New York, in 1852, and was a son of Edward Mandeville. He was reared in Rochester and completed his education in De Graff Military School. Throughout his entire life he was connected with the seed business, Rochester largely being a center for that line of commercial activity in the United States. He bought out the business of John Boardman in 1875 and ad- mitted in 1879 his brother-in-law, Herbert S. King. to a partnership, under the firm style of Mandeville & King. This selation was maintained until the death of Mr. King in 1890, when he formed a partnership with Fred A. King under the same firm name. A few months before his death, in 1902, the business was incorporated un- der the name of the Mandeville & King Company. which still continues. Mr. Mandeville secured a very liberal patronage and prospered in his under- dertakings, using every energy to enlarge his busi- ness and make it a prosperous concern. He was only a child at the time of his father's death and was carly thrown upon his own resources, so that he deserved much credit for what he accomplished.
Mr. Mandeville was married in 1876 to Miss Harriet King, a daughter of Jonathan King, who came to Rochester in 1825 from Massachusetts. Her mother was Sarah Sibley King, of Brighton. Her father settled on Sophia street in Rochester and cleared the land there, for at that time it was swampy. He continued to make his home upon that place throughout his remaining days and
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contributed in large measure to the substantial upbuihling of the city. His daughter, Mrs. Man- deville, is the only member of the family now living. By her marriage she became the mother of three children, Edna King, Lois Sibley and Ar- thur Wilber.
In his political views Mr. Mandeville was a re- publican, and he belonged to St. Luke's church at Rochester, in which he served as a vestryman. His life was in many respects exemplary and he enjoyed in large measure the confidence and es- teem of those with whom he came in contart. In his business career he was found thoroughly relin- ble and trustworthy, and all who knew him recog- nized in him the inherent force of charneter and capability which enabled him to advance from a humble financial position to one of affluence.
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VALENTINE F. WHITMORE.
Valentine F. Whitmore is the president and founder of the firm of Whitmore, Rauber & Vici- nus. most prominent general contractors of Rochester. In the present age it is the tendency to systematize all business interests to such an extent that a single individual is now at the head of industrial, commercial and financial interests which would have required tifty or perhaps a linn- dred men a half century ago to manage and con- trol. It is the accomplishment of maximum re- sulis with minimum effort, the utilizing every force without waste and the employment of espe- cinlly skilled labor for specific duties that has made the present condition possible. With the growth and progress that has been manifest in business cireles during the past third of a century or more Valentine F. Whinnore has kept fully abrenet and in fact has been a leader in this move- ment toward the centralization of management und control. He is, as president of the firm of Whitmore. Rauber & Vicinus, employing hundreds of workmen in the exception of contracts which makes their business the most extensive of the character in Rochester and western New York.
Mr. Whitmore is a native of Germany, born September 17, 1844, and at the age of five years came from the fatherland to the new world. the family home being established in Syracuse, where he acquired the major part of his education. In 1859 he started ont to earn his own livelihood, being emploved as water hoy on public works in Syracuse. At the age of eighteen he came to Rochester and Inter became superintendent of con- struction on the canal and received a contract to repair the Erie canal. He worked on the canal for the late Lewis Selve until 1868. when he es- tablished the contract business, which under his
guidance and the assistance of able associates has grown into one of the mammoth industrial enter- prises of the city. He continued to do contracting alone for a time and on January 1, 1875, organ- ized the tiri of Whitmore, Rauber & Vicinus, with the late John Ranher and William Vicinus, which is now a stock company, with Valentine F. Whitmore as president : John N. Rauber as vice president ; Lewis S. Whitmore as treasurer; Wil- liam H. Vicinns as sceretary ; and Charles S. Ran- her and Walter V. Whitmore as shareholders. All are equal shareholders. The rapid growth and development of the business has necessitated the enlargement of the force of workmen from time to time until they now employ about seven hundred inen. They have been awarded und have exeented some of the largest contracts in the city, princi- tally in street improvements, Their contracts in- ¿Inde the Rochester water works conduit, which is twenty-six and one-half miles long and three fort four inches in diameter, six hundred men having been employed by the firm in its construction. They are fortunate in owning their own limestone quarry, for their prin- cipal work is street and sewer contracting. cut sione and masons' supplies and interior marble work. Mr. Whitmore is president and manager of the Rochester German Brick & Tile Company and a stockholder of the Columbia Banking, Saving & Loan Association, of which he was at one time president, one of the organizers and founders.
On the 21st of February, 186;, Valentine F. Whitmore was united in marriage to Miss Ennice 1 .. Haight, and unto them were born three sons and n daughter: Lewis S. and Walter V., hoth of whom are married and have one son: Eunice, how the wife of William 11. Vicinus, by whom she has two sons: and llomer G , who is also mar- ried andl has one son. All of the family are con- herted with the business, the sons being active therewith and widely recognized as ahle, enter- prising and successful business men.
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