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 91
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Charles Herbert Crouch, whose record fully ans- tains the honorable reputation of the family naine, wus a pupil in the public schools of Rochester in carly boyhood and received technical business training in Rochester Business University. His practical experience was obtained under the direc- tion of his futher, for whom he began working in
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CHARLES T. CROUCH.
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connection with the lumber trade in his youth. In he was graduated in the class of 1844. In prep- 1880, when a young man of twenty-three years, he aration for the bar, he studied in the law office of llenry E. Rochester, who married his sister. At a later date he was admitted to the bar but was diverted from legal practice to go into busi- ness, and engaged in the coal trade, selling the first anthracite coal in Rochester. He was provost marshal at the time the first draft was made for the Civil war. Citizens became angry at the strin- gent military measures which were being taken and a mob gathered at his home. He sent his family away, fearing for their lives, No violence, however, was attempted, owing to the presence of officers and guards. For many years Mr. Hart was a most prominent and well known resident of Rochester, connected with various events that shaped the history, molded the policy and pro- moted the growth of the city. His death oc- eurred in 1883. He was a prominent republican and represented his district in congress during the period of the Civil war. He afterward figured prominently in banking circles, being secretary and treasurer of the Rochester Savings Bank until his death. He married Deette Phelon, a native of Cherry Valley, Otsego county, New York. was achinitted to a partnership in the business nn- der the firm style of G. W. & C. T. Cronch & Sons. at which time the extensive sawmill and lumber interests of the firm were located on Crouch island. In the spring of 1887 C. T. and Charles H. Crouch retired from that firm and established a new en- terprise at the present location at 99 West street under the firm name of C. T. Crouch & Son. This was maintained until 1898, when upon the death of the father the business was incorporated under the name of the C. T. Crouch & Son Company, a style that was continued until the 1st of January, 1907, when the present Crouch & Brahan Com- pany was organized. Throughout his entire busi- ness career Charles H. Crouch has been con- nected with the lumber trade and it would be dif- fieult to find one who bus a more intimate knowl- edge thereof. Since the organization of the pres- ent firm be has also been connected with the coal trade and in both branches they have a very ex- tensive business, the firm meriting the unassail- able reputation which has always been borne by the Crouch family as representatives of the lumber business in Rochester.
In 1881 Charles Herbert Crouch was married to Sarah 1 .. Hancock, a native of Rochester and a daughter of John Hancock. They have four children : Rhoda L., Susan H., Edna and Charles T. Mr. Crouch is a member of all of the Masonic bodies, having attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish rite. He is pre-eminently a man of affairs and one who bas wielded a wide influence. Essentially a business man, his time and energies have been concentrated upon the successful con- duct of an enterprise which in extent and import- ance is scarcely equaled by any of the representa- tives of this line of trade in Rochester.
REV. EDWARD PHELON HART.
Rev. Edward Phelou Hart, rector of St. Mark's church of Rochester, was born in this city, July 6, 1851, and has always resided here. He was a son of Roswell Hart, a native of Rochester, and a grandson of Roswell Hart, Sr., one of the early residents of the village of Rochester, who in pioneer times owned a commission house where the Elwood block now stands. He died in early manhood and his children were thus orphaned. Among the number was Roswell Hart, who was provided with excellent educational opportunities. He was graduated from Finshing school, Long Island. under D. Muhlenberg. and afterward became a student at Yale University, from which
Rev. Edward Phelon Hart, the only son in a family of four children, has always been a resi- dent of Monroe county. He was born on a farm owned by his uncle, Thomas Hart, where the Brinker station now stands. Todry the city limits extend far beyond that farm. After two years a removal was made to a stone house on Sophia street, where he remained for fifteen years, and then took up his abode in a house at No. 90 Ply- month uveune, where he lived up to the time of his marriage. lle supplemented his early ednea- tional privileges hy study in the University of Rochester, from which he was graduated in 1872 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, He was in business of various kinds for five or six years and recalls with pride some of his business adventures of the early days, as they put him in touch with the business world and the conditions therein ex- isting and gained for him a knowledge which nas been of incalculable benefit to him as he has met and mingled with business men in later years. It was Rev. Hart who sold the first fire ex- tinguisher in the city and for two years he en- gaged in the sale of the Babcock fire engine. He also spent two years in a coal office and nearly a vear as private secretar: for George E. Merchant in the old Stateline Railroad office. His earlier professional service embraced several years' con- nection with educational institutions. He taught in the deaf and dumb school with Professor Z. F. Westervelt for three years and with Professor Westervelt helped in framing the Western New York school for the deaf and dumb. Prior to that he had been connected with an Episcopal mission for deaf mutes and translated services for
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them for several years in St. Luke's church in a grist and sawmil, which he continued to oper- Rochester.
Having determined to devote his life to the work of the ministry, he was admitted to holy orders as a deacon December 21, 1884, by the Hit. Rev. Arthur Cleveland Cose and to the priesthood in September, 1885. He became assistant minister in St. Luke's church, where he remained for a year and a half and was then assigned to the charge of $1. Mark's missi m. In November, 1885. the cornerstone of St. Mark's church was laid and in due course of time the buikling was com- pleted at the corner of Merrimac and Hollister streets. The church was consecrated the follow- ing year and n number of familirs were trans- ferred from St. Luke's, forming a nucleus of a new mission. A parish house was erected with complete equipment for work and for twenty- three years Rev. Hart has remained as rector of St. Mark's church, which has long since ceased to be a mission and now numbers three hundred com- m:micants. The growth, development und sue- cessful work of the church is largely due to his untiring zeal and muremitting efforts and St. Mark's has become a potent influence in the com- munity for moral progress and development. Rev. Ilart is also a trustee of the institute for deaf mutes and Is given oversight to the deaf mute mission.
On the 21st of September. 1901, he was mar- ried to Angelica Church, who died on the 8th of June, 1902, after a happy but very brief married life of nine months. She was a native of Belvi- dere. Allegany county, New York, and a daughter of Richard Church. who now resides with Rev. Hart. She was also a great-granddaughter of Gen- eral Philip Schuyler of Revolutionry war fame. and a relative of Alexander Hamilton. Rev. Hart now has in his possession many relies of the Reve- Intionary war, including several letters from Geņ- eral Washington and furniture which was used by his wife's relatives in Revolutionary times: . A mahogany dining table and chairs, upon which sat Washington, Hamilton, Jav and other dis- tinguished men of that day when being enter- tained by the ancestors of Mrs. Hart.
JOSEPH A. SPENCER.
Joseph A. Spencer is a representative of one of the olil and prominent families of his section of the county, his native village Spencerport, having been named in honor of his father, Daniel Spencer, who was a native of Connecticut It came to western New York when a young man, arriving in Monroe county in 1804. He engaged in the manufacture of linseed oil on the Ridge inad for a number of years and in 1833 he built
ale throughout his remaining days, The Erie can- al was dug through his form and the portion lying thereon was called Spencer's Busin, Mr. Spencer dug this hasin and put in the waste weir for the privilege of using the water for the mill and made the overflow for the canal. When the post- office was established it was called Spencer's Basin hut later the name was changed to Spencerport, which has since been retained. He continued an active and influential resident of this locality up to the time of his death, which occurred when he was sixty-four years of age. Twire married, he first wedded Miss Willey and for his second wife he chose Polly Foster, who was born in Onondaga county, New York, whence she removed to Pal- wyra. Her death occurred in Spencerport when she was sixty-four years of age. In the family were two sons: Joseph .A. ; and Libius Foster, who died about 1901. He was supervisor of Ogdeu township for two terms and, like the others of the family, was influential in community affairs. At one time he was engaged in the coal business.
Joseph A. Spencer has spent his entire life in the village which is yet his home, his birth hav- ing here occurred on the 12th of September, 1828, so that he has now reached the age of seventy- nine years, He was a pupil in school between the ages of six and tifteen and when not busy with nis text-books was largely employed in assisting his father. After his marriage he engaged in the Immber business in connection with N. S. P. C'rocker, under the finin name of Crocker & Spen- ver, which relation was maintained for about eight months. Mr. Spencer then sold his interest to William Curtis and bought a farm of one hundred and six neres adjoining the village corporation. The former owner was John Carl, a son-in-law of Mr. Spencer's nhele, Austin Spencer, who ur- rived in Monroe county in 1808 and seenred a furm from the land company. It was then unde- velopel but he cleared the tract and placed it under cultivation. Joseph A. Spencer continued actively in agricultural pursuits until ahont five years ago, when his son assumed the management and operation of the farm, Mr. Spencer, however, continuing to own it until abont 1905, when he sold the property. He is now living retired in the enjoyment of a well eurned rest. his former labor having brought to him a capital sufficient to enable him now to enjoy the comforts of life without further recourse to business interests.
In 1852 was celebrated the marriage of .Joseph A. Spencer und Miss Tenbelle Wright, a native of this county, who died in 1895. when abont sixty Years of age. Unto them were born four children : Foster W., who is engaged in the hardware busi- ness in Spencerport : Frederick C., who died abont 1820: Mary S .. the wife of Burton Goff of the saine village : and Edward C., also of Spencerport.
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Mr. Spencer has always been a supporter of the democracy but has never sought or desired of- fice, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business affairs. He has, however, never been remiss in the duties of citizenship but on the contrary has stood for all that promotes pub- lic progress and improvement. The name of Spen- cer has long been a prominent and honored one in this part of the county and the life record of Joseph A. Spencer has been such as to win him the veneration and respeet which should ever be accorded to one who has advanced thus far on life's journey.
CHARLES ALFRED ELWOOD.
Charles Alfred Elwood, secretary and treasurer of the Schortfel-Elwood Con! Company, of Roch- ester, was here born on the 16th of March, 1865. He acquired his education in the public schools of this city and at the age of seventeen years en- tered the old Bank of Monroe, on the present site of the Genesee Valley Trust Company. Hle first held the position of runner and the fact that he remained in the service of the bank for fifteen years is unmistakable proof of his fidelity and capability in the discharge of his duties. As his efficiency increased and his ability became recog- nized he was gradually promoted from one posi- tion to the next higher until he was made head bookkeeper. When this bank was consolidated with the Alliance Bank he entered the latter in a similar capacity and in a few months became nesistant cashier, remaining with the institution until 1905. In that year, in association with George B. Schortfel, he organized the Schoeffel- Elwood Coal Company, of which Mr. Schoeffel is president and Charles A. Elwood secretary and treasurer. In the brief period of three years which have elapsed since the establishment of this enter- prise they have built up one of the Inrgest retail coal businesses in Rochester, the success which has attended them being largely due to the ex- cellent management and indefatigable labor of Mr. Elwood. Our subject is also connected with various other business enterprises and is recog- nized as one of the strong factors in the com- mercinl development and prosperity of Rochester.
On the 15th of Angust, 1895, Mr. Elwood was united in marriage to Miss Grace C. Williams, a daughter of H. C. Williams, a jeweler of Roch- ester. Mr. Elwood has one brother, Frederick F. Elwood, connuissioner of public works of Roches- ter.
In his political views Mr. Elwood is a repub- lican, believing the principles of this party to be most conducive to good government, He is a mem- her of the Rochester Whist Club, both he and his
wife bxing highly esteemed in the social circles of the city. They are members of the Lake Ave- nue Baptist church and take an active interest in its work and upbuilding. The success which Mr. Elwood has achieved is due entirely to his own well directed labor and unfaltering perseverance and, when viewed in the light of his past rec- ord, the future looks bright and promising.
REV. WILLIAM PAYNE.
Rev. William Payne, pastor of Holy Cross church, of Charlotte, was born in Canandaigua, Ontario county, New York, July 25, 1856. When he was two years of age his parents removed to Shortsville, New York, and two years later took up their abode in Rushville on a farm. He spent his early years working npon the farin and acquiring his preliminary education in the district schools, which he supplemented later by a course in the Rushville Union School and Academy. In order to make financial provision for Inter study he taught school in Steuben county for some time. The profession of law attracted his attention, and he pursued his studies along this line for six months in Hornellsville (now Hornell). This was long enough to convince him that his talent lay in another direction, and he necordingly went to St. Andrews Seminary, Rochester, where he began his preparation for the priesthood and completed his course in this institution in June, 1884. In Sep- tember of the same year he entered St. Joseph's Provincial Seminary at Troy, New York, fromn which he was graduated. On July 25, 1888, on his thirty-second birthday, he was ordained at St. l'atrick's cathedral in Rochester and was mnude as- sistant pastor to the Rev. J. T. Me Manns, vicar general, at Geneva, New York. Upon the death of the vicar general in 1890 Father Payne became assistant to his successor, the Rev. William A. Mc- Donald, and served in this capacity until the 1st of April, 1894. Hle was then made pastor of the churches in Stanley and Rushville. On October 15, 1805, he accepted his present pastorate of Holy Cross church in Charlotte.
He well deserves the love and admiration which he receives, for he has done and is doing a great and useful work both in a material and spiritual way. He has rebuilt the school which was de- stroved by fire and opened the new building in September, 1906. He has made many minor im- provements in the building and grounds and has always maintained a high ideal in his life work. To Father Payne many n discouraged man and woman owes a new start in life. I'nostentations und modest, he has done his greatest work among men and women, and though the scope of this
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work can never be known, the consciousness of having done it, of having been a potent factor for the good of the world must be a great satisfaction to Father Payne.
FRANKLIN HARDING.
A well known condition prevailing in the world today has been grammaticaly phrased in "Our ca- pacity for earning is increasing out of all pro- portion to our capacity for enjoving." The truth of this statement finds verification in the lives of manv men of wealth and those who are strug- gling for financial independence. An exception to the rule is found in Franklin llarding, for. although he has led a busy life, connecting him with various business enterprises and interests. he has also found opportunity for pleasure and recreation. In fact, he has to a large extent made his business interests serve these ends, with the result that today there are in America few men with equal knowledge of its wild haunts and the various phases of nature presented on this con- tinent. His knowledge is that of the observer and of the scientist as well, and his career has been most varied and covers a wide range of travel.
A native of New York, Mr. Harding was born in Binghamton, September 29, 1852, and in both the paternal and maternal lines comes of early colonial familes whose ancestry can be traced back to old England. He has always been a stu- dent, but not a book worm, and in youth he eager- lv availed himself of the opportunities offered him for study in the public schools, the Delaware Lit- erary Institute, at Franklin, New York, and the Claverack Military College, near the Hudson, from which he was graduated at the head of his class, with the highest military rank conferred by that institution. Ile subsequently attended the Medical College at Yale University, and during three years spent abroad his time was nearly conally divided in study in Germany, Austria and France. During his school days Mr. Harding, in addition to attaining prominence in his classes, found time to learn carpentry and boat building- later designing and constructing many small crafts, such as canoes, skitfs, sail boats and steam launches. His school and college life found him in the fore rank in baseball, football, rowing, skating, swimming. wrestling and as a light weight gymnast.
He was abroad at the time the World's Fair was held in Vienna, Austria. during which time he was assistant secretary and later acting secretary (in place of George W. Silcox, of Syracuse, re- signed) of the United States Commission, and in this capacity, because of his linguistic ability, he
met personally and assisted in receiving and mak- ing interesting the American exhibit to perhaps a hundred or more members of royalty and other luminaries, among whom may be mentioned the Emperor and Empress of Austria, Emperor and Empress of Germany, King and Queen of Holland, Shah of Persia, King Victor Emmanuel of Italy, ex-Queen Isabella of Spain, Bismarck, Count Von Moltke, and princes, princesses, dukes, duchesses, lords and ladies galore. While in Vienna he was foreign correspondent for an American newspaper and special writer for the New York State Edu. cational Journal, furnishing that magazine manu- scripts and illustrations of schools and educational methods of Europe. His vacations while studying abroad were devoted to travel and included nearly every country of Europe from Lapland to the Mediterranean.
Upon his return to Binghamton Mr. Harding began learning the printer's art and served in every capacity in the newspaper office from devil to pressman, at the same time acquiring a knowl- edge of artistic jobber. While thus engaged he also published an amateur daily paper in Bing- hamton and his activity iu social matters led to the formation of L'Esperance Club. one of the earliest organizations of its character in Bingham- ton. Of this he was elected the first president. At the age of eleven years he had become an ex- pert rifle shot, which was undoubtedly one of the elements that developed in him a desire for travel, as his love of hunting took him to the wilds in various parts of the country. This he says was also stimulated by his reading of a serial entitled "Afloat in the Forest," which appeared in Our Young Folks early in the '60s, over the autograph of Mavne Reid. llis first long excursion into the woods came when he was fifteen years of age. when he accompanied two famous trappers, Long John and Little Chauney to northern Michigan, where they spent five months. During that pe- riod he became an adept at trapning and well versed in wooderaft. His next long trip was across Texas in 1875. from Texarkana to Browns- ville.
In the fall of the same year Mr. Harding was married to Miss Alice Jeanette Amory, whose parents. Rufus King and Jeanette Montgomery (Allerton) Amory, were also of Puritan stock. The mother was a sister of David Allerton, one of Conunodore Vanderbilt's first partners, and the father was a son of James Amory, whose farmi included the major portion of Central Park, New York, which he sold to that city. Mrs. Harding accompanied her husband on many of his foreign travels and into American wilds. They have had most exciting hunting experiences, some of which include thrilling escapes from Indians. The blood of the Puritan pioneer flowing in the veins of his mate and an expertness in the use of firearms
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made her pre-eminently a fit companion for him in his wild perigrinations.
In 1877 Mr. llarding designed, built and launched the first pleasure steamboat made and used on the Susquehanna river at Binghamton. This venture, remunerative in a small way, evi- dently was too small for the man, for he ran his bont down the river in the fall, up the Juniata river to Huntingdon. Pennsylvania (about five hundred and four miles), and sold it to a social club composed of Pennsylvania railway officials. From Huntingdon he went to Canada, traveling all winter throngh Ontario, wriimg up the in- dustries of towns for local newspapers.
In the spring of 1878 he went to Rochester. Minnesota, and established two weekly newspa- pers, the Clairmont Times and Elgin News. From Minnesota he was attracted to Lake Forest, a suh- urb of Chicago, to put in a printing plant and is- sue a magazine. Here, with Miss Anna Farwell. ex-United States Senator Farwell's daughter, now Mrs. Reginald De Koven, an associate. he issued the University Review. He added a commercial plant to his workshop. taking vast orders for en- velopes, letterheads, billheads, etc., some of them running into the millions. These were printed flat, cut and made up or ruled afterward, an idea which so far as he knew originated with hin. and which enabled him by the use of a Hoe cylin- der press to underbid all competitors. He also published text-books. While here he was called to Omaha to take temporary charge of the Omalm Herald printing and publishing department. which included a big plant that did the state printing. In Omaha he met Robert E. Strahorn, president of the literary bureau of the Union Pacific Rail- way and by him wns induced to try Idaho as n newspaper field. Disposing of the Lake Forest plant, he went to the Wood river country in Idaho -then hundreds of miles from railroad or tele- graph-the scene of a new mining excitement. At that time a vast area of the territory was put down on the latest maps as nnexplored country. In the heart of this almost unknown region Mr. Harding, assisted by his brother, George La., on March 17, 1880, issued The Wood River Miner, a paper which enjoyed the distinction of being the first newspaper in that section and the highest price weekly in America, namely, twenty dollars a year and fifty cents a copy.
During the years from 1880 to 1888 Mr. Hard- ing was a very busy man. The paper, which was first issued in Belleview, was soon moved five miles up the valley to the new town of Hailey, which he aided in founding. Within a year the town outnumbered in population any town in the territory. The Miner soon became a daily, the first daily paper of Idaho. Its founder organized the first press association and became its presi- dent. In 1883, at Ketchum, a town twelve miles
up the river. he issued the Ketchum Keystone, and in the following year, at Houston, a mining camp one hundred miles eastward, the Houston Times. He edited the daily Miner and the Key- stone, for years riding between these offices on a pony, mostly after midnight, often sleeping in the saddle.
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