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 84
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In his political views Valentine F. Whitmore is a stalwart republican and has been somewhat active in local political circles. He formerly served for four years as school commissioner and for four years as alderman, and while he takes an active part in the city's welfare and upbuilding and in municipal progress and improvement. giv- ing his influence in support of progressive public mensures and lending his aid in sub- stantial way to furthering the plans for the city's development, he yet prefers to hold no publie office, desiring rather to concentrate his time and energies upon his extensive business. He is n director in the Merchants Bank and Gene- see Valley Trust Company and in other financial and industrial enterprises, having made judicious investment in different business concerns. His attention, however, is largely given to the exten-
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sive contracting business which had its origin in his laudable ambition and well defined plans and which owes its development in substantial measure to his executive force, keen discrimina- tion and utilization of opportunities. From early youth he has been one of the world's workers and his success, so great as to seem almost magical, 18 attributable directly to his own labors,
lewis S. Whitmore, eldest son of Valentine F. Whitmore, and treasurer of the firm of Whitmore. Rauber & Vieinus, was born in Rochester, Janu- ary 21, 1869. After attending public school No. 13 he became a high-school student, and he contin- ved his education until, eager to become a factor in business life, he went to work with his father, remaining with the firin as an employe until ad- mitted to a partnership in business under the present firm style of Whitmore. Ranber & Vicinus. As financial manager of the enterprise he has contributed to ils splendid snecess and in business circles in Rochester has won for himself a most enviable name.
Jewis S. Whitmore was married in this city in 1896 to Miss Harriet E. De Garmo, and they now have one son, Lewis S., in his second year. They also lost two children in infancy. In his political views Lewis S. Whitmore, Sr., is a stalwart repub- lican and has served as general committeeman of the thirteenth ward, taking an netive interest in promoting the work of the party and in shaping its poliev, so that success may he gained at the polls. Ile is a member of the Congregational church and an active representative of the Roches- fer Club. Ile is a broad-minded young man who. though concerned with the management of enor- mons Imsiness interests, has not narrowed his life down to the routine of daily duty in this conner- tion but has found the opportunity to meet his fellowmen on social and political planes, con- stantly broadening his nature by reaching out into those fields of thought and action which concern the general progress of the world and the trend of public advancement.
REV. ISAAC GIBBARD, D. D.
Rev. [saae Gibbard, who now holds superati- nunte relations with the church, but for many years was one of the active and prominent repre- sentatives of the Methodist ministry in New York, makes his home in Rochester and is still a force in the moral development of the community and in those departments of activity which uplift hu- manity and work for the betterment of various classes.
He was born in Buckinghamshire. England. September 11, 1833, his parents being Thomas
and Maria ( Kibble) Gibbard, both of whom were natives of England. Their family numbered four sors and one daughter, including Dr. Gibbard, who was brought to the United States by his parents in 1836, the family home being established in Middletown, Connecticut, where he was reared. On the 11th of April, 1852, he was converted Juring a powerful revival held by Rev B. I. Ives, at Auburn, New York, in the Methodist Epis- copal church, of which the Rev. David Holmes was pastor. This was on the 22d of August, 1853, and his life has been devoted to Christian work in its various phases. He began his study for the ministry in Auburn Academy under Professor William Hopkins, subsequently professor of nat- ural science in Genesce College, at Lima, New York. On the 23d of January, 1854, he received license to exhort from the Rev. A. J. Dana, of Auburn, and on the 9th of May, 1854, he was enrolled as a student in Genesee Wesleyan Semi- nary at Lima, New York, to prepare for college. On the 28th of Angest, 1855. he became a fresh- man in Genesre College, at Lima, and on the 1st of May, 1856, was licensed as a local preacher at the quarterly conference of the Methodist church, at Lima. Rev. Philo Woodruff, pastor, and Rev. Loren Stiles. P. E.
On the 11th of July, 1856, Dr. Gibbard was awarded the prize of merit in the declamation contest between six students of the freshmen and six of the sophomore classes. This was the presi- dent's prize and first given at Genesce College, now Syracuse University. The same oratorical ability which he then displayed has always char- arterized Dr. Gibbard in his work in the min- istry and upon the lecture platform and has been one of the poteut elements in his success, On the 24th of August, 1857, during his junior year in college he was appointed by the Rev. U. S. George, P. E., to supply a charge at Rush, New York, and in August, 1858, during his senior year in col- lege, and in the conference held at Corning, New York, he was re-appointed to supply the charge at Rush. In June, 1859, he was graduated from Genesee College, at Lima, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and on the 14th of Angust of the same year at the conference held in Trumans- burg, New York, he was ordained deacon by Bishop Simpson and appointed to a charge at Naples, New York, in 1859. His labors there resulted in the conversion of over one hundred. On leaving Naples at the close of the conference year he was appointed to the Cornhill Methodlist Church in Rochester.
Soon after entering upon his life work as a minister of the gospel, Dr. Gibbard also chose a companion and helpmate for life's journey, being married on the 2d of November, 1859, to Miss Louisa Smith, the only daughter of Dr. Socrates
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REV. ISAAC GIBBARD.
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Smith, of Rush, New York. They have become the parents of four daughters: Emum M. and Louise Elizabeth, at home; Belle, the wife of Percy R. McPhail, president of the Merchants Bank of Rochester ; and Josephine May, the wife of George W. Riley, of this city.
In 1861 Dr. Gibbard was appointed to the church at Dansville, New York, and re-appointed to that charge in 1862; on the 12th of July of the latter year the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him by Wesleyan University, at Middletown, Connectiont ; on the 9th of April, 1863, he was appointed chaplain of the One Hun- dred and Forty-third Regiment of New York State Volunteers; on the 9th of September of the saine year at the conference held at Penn Yan he was ordained an elder by Bishop L. Scott and ap- pointed to the charge at Burdette, New York ; on the 6th of April, 1864, he entered upon the duties of professorship and acting president of the East Genesee Conference Seminary at Ovid, New York, having been elected to that position by the trustees with the approval of the presiding eller of the dis- trict, Rev. S. L. Congdon. On the 30th of August, 1865, at the conference held in Waterloo, New York, he was appointed to the church at Rush, and when conference convened in Newark, New York, on the 29th of Angust. 1866, he asked and received a vacation for the purpose of study and travel in Europe. During the three succeeding years he studied in Berlin, Halle and Zurich and traveled in various parts of Europe, in Egypt and in Palestine, during which time he acted as cor- respondent for several New York journals. His knowledge was greatly hrondened, not only by his research, sindy and investigation in the ohl world. but also by the acquirement of that knowledge which comes almost without effort to those who travel. Following his return to America he served in 1869, 1870 and 18;1 as pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at Phelps, New York, being re- appointed for the second and third years. The vear 18:3 brought han the honorary degree of Mas- ter of Arts from Svraense I'niversity and in the same year he was appointed to the church at Sen- eca Falls, receiving a re-appointment in 1873. In 1874, owing to nervous prostration brought on through overwork, he was granted superannuary relations, which he still holds. His deen interest in the church and the various phases of its work has never abated in the slightest degree and his real has been manifest in many ways in behalf of the cause of Methodism and the Christianizing of the world. In 1874 he wo's elreted orator of the Alumni Association of Syracuse University and six years later. in 1880, that institution conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity; in 1880-81 he was president of the Alumni Associa- tion of Syracuse University and delivered the ad-
dress of welcome at the inauguration of Chan- cellor C. N. Sims; in 1882 he was elected Alumni president to fill out the unexpired term of Ross Clark Scott and was again chosen, continuing in that position for six years; in 1883 there came to him from Governor Grover Cleveland appointment as manager of the State Industrial School and by successive governors he has been re-appointed until he received the following letter, hended, "State of New York, Executive Chambers, Albany, Janu- ary 22. 1906. Rev. Isaac Gibbard. D. D., Roches- ter, New York. My Drar Dr. Gibbard: I have your letter of January 12, relative to retirement from the board of managers of the State Industrial School, 1 regret exeredingly that you are com- pelled to take this action, but of course if you in- sist I suppose I shall be obliged to accede to your wishes in the matter and accept your resig- nation. I am yours very truly, Frank W. Hig- gins."
From 1892 Dr. Gibbard was by annual elec- tion of the board of managers of the State Indus- trial School, consisting of fifteen members, chosen its president and acted in that capacity until the acceptance of his resignation ns indicated above. In 1903 he was appointed by the legislature a member of the commission, consisting of the gov- ernor, the comptroller, the state architect, the president of the state board of trustees and the president of the board of managers of the State Industrial School, to select and purchase a state farin, consisting of fourtern hundred acres, for a new farm site for the State Industrial School, the purchase being effected on the 12th of December, 1903.
Dr. Gibbard has been a resident of Rochester since May, 18;4, and in 1826 he erected his pres- ent connutedious and beautiful brick residence at No. 606 West avenue-at that time a pioneer home in that section of the city, which, however, is now closely built up around him. His home, however, still ranks as one of the best in the neighborhood. Dr. Gibbard is a member of the Genesee Methodist Episcopal conference and a member of the quar- terly conference and the West Avenue Methodist Episcopal church. He had formerly been a mem- ber of the First Methodist church, but after the organization of the new congregation as the West Avenne church he phieed his membership therein in order to assist in building up the society, to which he has given six thousand dollars. To those who read between the lines it is a self-evident fact that Dr. Gibbard is a man of scholarly attain- ments and one who throughout his entire life has been actnated by the highest principles and pur- poses. Ilis influence has never been of a restricted order nor has he been denied the full harvest of his labors. He has ever been a close and earnest student of the great sociological and economic as
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well as theological problems and holds advanced views upon many subjects which concern the up- lifting of humanity. He has ever used practical methods in working toward the ideal, which have found their proof in his effective work in connec- tion with the State Industrial School.
GEORGE W. ARCHER.
While a large percentage of Rochester's business men have been attracted to this city by reason of its pulsing industrial conditions and broad op- portunities or have become factors in its active life in recent years there are also found among the prominent representatives of commercial and financial interests those who have been identified with the city through long years and have not only been witnesses of its growth from a small town to a city of metropolitan proportions but have been factors in its yearly development and progress, Such a one is George Washington Archer. who was born in Rochester, February 8, 1837. The family is of English lineage and the parents of our subjert were John and Elizabeth Archer, the former reared in Cheltenham. Gloucestershire, and the latter in Coventry. War- wickshire. England. There were three sons and five daughters of the family and three of the sis- ters of Mr. Archer are still living. The father was a contractor and builder and followed that occupation in New York city following his emi- gration to the United States in 1831. In 1834 he herame a resident of Rochester, which at that time had not yet emerged from villagehood, and here he carried on business as a contractor and builder until 1857, erecting many of the substantial strue- tures of an early day. He died in 1823 at the agr of seventy years, while his wife survived until 18;6 and passed away at the age of seventy-five.
At the usual age George W. Archer became a pupil in the public schools of Rochester and sub- sequently was graduated from Eastman's Business College. When a youth of seventeen he began learning the carpenter's trade in his father's shop, and following the father's retirement in 1852 he entered the employ of his elder brother. Robert W. Archer, who had purchased the patent of a dental chair. In August. 1863, he nerepted a position as bookkeeper at Petroleum Center. Pennsylvania, where he remained until June. 1864. after which be conducted a machine shop at Tarr Farm on Oil ereek, Pennsylvania, until 1868. when the ill health of his brother caused him to return to Rochester. He then took up the brother's business of manufacturing dental and barbers' chairs and has since continred in this line. The business was conducted under the firm style of R. W. Archer & Brother until 1823, when
the senior partner died and George W. Archer was then alone until January 1, 1851, when he ad- mitted his brother, John W., to a partnership under the firm style of George W. Archer & Com- pany. On the Ist of January, 1884, the Archer Manufacturing Company was incorporated and to the present time George W. Archer has been its president. The output of the factory, which is located at No. 9 North Water street, is barher, dontist and surgeons' chairs and piano stools, which are largely the result of the inventive genius of the president.
A man of resourceful business ability, Mr. Archer bas extended his efforts into various other departments of activity with equally good resnite Hle has been heavily interested in oil production in Pennsylvania and from 1882 until 1884 was president of the Rochester Gas & Electric Com- rany, of which he had previously served as treas- urer. He was vice president of the Rochester Pullman Sash Balance Company and treasurer of the Vulcanite Paving Company and was presi- dent of the suburban railroad until it was sold. He has also been on the directorate of various other important business enterprises of the city which have benefited by his wise counsel and keen discernment in business affairs.
In 1865 Mr. Archer was married to Miss Angustu MeClure. He is a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity. is president of the Rochester Driving Park Association, and is a prominent member of the Genesee Valley Club and the Rochester Whist Club. His political views were for- merly in accord with the principles of the demo- cratie party and he served as alderman of the city from 1882 until 1884, while in 1886 he was can- didate for mayor. He is at the present time affili- ated with no political organization. Matters of citizenship aside from politics revive his earnest attention and his co-operation has been given to many progressive public movements. He stands today as one of the foremost citizens of Rochester by reason of his long residence here, by reason of his active, honorable and successful connection with its business interests and by reason of the helpful part which he has taken in promoting those plans and measures that have been of direct Tenefit to the city.
FREDERICK C. LATER.
Frederick C. Laner was born in Rochester. New York. August 17. 1845. his parents heing Frederick C. and Margaret Elizabeth (Walter) Lauer, nat- tivos of Prussia, Germany, and of France. re- spectively. In 1833. when a youth of eleven years, Frederick C. Laner, Sr., come to America
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with his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Christian Lauer. who located on Brown street in Rochester, while subsequently they removed to Grove street, where they spent their remaining days. Christian Laner followed the shoemaker's trade for some years and afterward worked as a stone-mason. His death occurred when he had reached the age of eighty- two, and his wife passed away at the age of eighty-three. They were the parents of six sons and two daughters, of whom one is yet living: Margaret, the wife of Christian Frank.
Frederick C. Lauer, Sr., was reared to manhond in Rochester and learned the mason's trade, in which line he began contracting after he attained his majority. Subsequently he became a street contractor and constructed a number of the streets in Rochester. Ile always took a comunendable in- terest in public affairs, especially along educa- tional lines, and for two years was a member of the school board. He also figured in military circles as a member of the state militia and his political allegiance was given to the whig party until its dissolution, when he joined the ranks of the new republican party. He held membership in Val- ley lodge. F. & A. M., and both he and his wife were members of the Intheran church. His death occurred in 1895, when he was seventy-five years of age, while his wife passed away in 1876 at the age of fifty-four years. In their family were seven children, fonr sous and three daugh- ters, of whom five are living: Frederick C .: Caro- line C., the wife of George F. Tichenor, of Man- chester, Kansas: Adelia and Amelia, twins, the former the wife of Frederick Wanamacher, of Rochester. and the latter the widow of a Mr. Koerner, of Rochester; and Edward C., a railroad contractor of this city.
Frederick C. Lauer, whose name introduces this record, has spent his entire life in Rochester, and is indebted to its public school system for the educational privileges he acquired. He began working for his father at the age of fifteen years. learning the mason's trade, and eventually taking up contract work as his father's partner. After his father's death he continued the business alone until 1906, when he admitted his sons, Walter F. and George W., to a partnership under the firm name of F. C. Lauer & Sons, and in 1907 the com- pany was incorporated under the firm style of F. C. Lauer & Sons Company. There stand as monuments to his skill and enterprise a number of the fine buildings of Rochester, and in asso- ciation with S. W. Hagaman, under the firm name of Laner & Hagaman, he was extensively engaged in business as street and sewer contractors. The firm during its existence did most of the important. work of that character in the city. Mr. Lauer also became president of the Vulcanide Paving Company, which was organized in 1888, and does most of the asphalt paving of Rochester. He as-
sisted in organizing the Rochester Lime Com- pany and succeeded Horace May in the presi- dency. He likewise owns some valuable farming property in this county and extensive land hold- ings near the Montezuma marshes, between Clyde and Savannah.
On the 20th of November, 1872, Frederick C. Laner was married to Miss Christine Steinhauser. a daughter of Jacob and Barbara (Smith) Stein- hauser. They became the parents of three sons : Walter F., Edward T. and George W. The sec- ond died in infancy. Walter F. married Amanda Strauchen and they have four children: Edwin S., Frederick Charles, Franklin Albert and Eliza- heth Elsie. George W. married Fannie A. McAl- lister and they have one daughter, Christine Frances. The sons are now associated with their father in business and are enterprising young men.
Mr. Lauer is not unknown in military circles and for a number of years served as captain of Company G of the New York National Guard. He and his wife are members of the Church of the Reformation, with which he became identified on its organization. He belongs to Valley lodge, No. 109, F. & A. M .: Jonie chapter, R. A. M .: Monroe commandery, K. T .; and has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish rite in Roches- ter consistory. He is likewise a charter member of Koerner lodge of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of Calvin. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, and he has been called to various local offices, having served at different times as supervisor. alderman, school commissioner, member of the executive board and member of the board of health. He has never been a public man in the ordinary sense. He has held some offices, the duties of which have been discharged with the utmost fidelity and prompt- ness, Aside from this, however, through the busi- noss enterprises he has conducted the publie has been a large indirect beneficiary and at the same time he has exerted his influence as a strong. steady, moving force in the social, moral and in- dustrial advancement of the community. A con- temporary biographer has said: "His strict in- tegrity and honorable dealing in business com- mend him to the confidence of all: his pleasant manner wins him friends and be is one of the popular and honored residents of his native city."
JAMES E. WOLCOTT.
James E. Wolcott; whose sudden death at Nor- folk, Virginia, November 24. 1906, caused a feel- ing of wide-spread regret in Rochester, in which city he was a life-long resident, was born in the year 1850, his parents being G. P. and Caroline
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Wolcott. The public schools of Rochester afforded him his early edneational privileges, and he also attended Professor Satterlee's school. When twon- ty-one years of age he entered the distilling busi- ness and was active in the management of the James E. Wolcott & Company distillery at the corner of Clarissa and Wolcott streets. . He con- tinued in that until 1901, when he disposed of his interests to the New York & Kentucky Com- pany. For a number of years he had been con- nected with the financial interests of the city and wns a director of the Genesee Valley Trust Com- pamny and of the Traders National Bank. His opinions regarding financial and other business matters were considered sound and his ideas con- cerning management and expedience were often receiveil as conclusive.
Mr. Wolcott was married in Rochester in 1874 to Miss Ida J. Chase, and unto them were born three children: C. J. and G. B., both of Roches- ter ; and Mrs. F. E. Clawson, of Ridgeway, Penn- sylvania. Mr. Wolcott was a great lover of a thoroughbred horse and always owned one or two. He was connected with the Gentlemen Drivers' Association and greatly delighted in a brush on the Rochester speedway. in which he was inter- ested. He became a well known figure there and the statement that any horse belonged to James E. Wolcott was sufficient guarantee of its worth and highbred qualities.
In Masonry he was prominent, belonging to Rochester lodge, No. 660, F. & A. M .: the Mon- ror commandery, K. T .: and to the consistory, in which he attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish rite. His life was in harmony with the spirit of the craft. Ile possessed a social, genial nature, which won him warm friendships. His death resulted suddenly of apoplexy at Nor- folk, Virginia, when he was fifty-six years of age. His loss was felt in business circles as well as among his many friends, he having a very wide acquaintance in Rochester, of which city he was a life-long resident.
THOMAS O. SWANSON.
The business interests which claim the time and energies of Thomas O. Swanson are now quite extensive and important and his life history is worthy of mention because of the fact that his advancement and his success are attributable en- tirely to his own labors. He is a native of Swe- den, born November 22, 1856. His father, Swen Tarson, was born in Sweden in 1820, while the mother, Mrs. Alice Larson, also opened her eyes to the light of day in the same country and in
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