USA > New York > Genesee County > History of the Genesee country (western New York) comprising the counties of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates, Volume III > Part 47
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MR. AND MRS. THOMAS MUCKLE AND FAMILY
Standing, left to right-Andrew G., Rev. William D., Rev. Joseph T., Rev. John F., Rev. Charles E., Mother Mary Charles. Sitting-Leo A., Mrs. Thomas Muckle, Thomas Muckle, Mrs. John E. McWilliams, Miss Jane.
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He remained until January, 1919, and is now a teacher in St. Francis' Seminary at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Rev. Father Breen built an addition to the church and also a vestry. He likewise purchased the property at the corner of Stanley and Murray streets and built thereon a stone schoolhouse, which now has a registration of five hundred and sixty and is in charge of the Sisters of St. Joseph. In January, 1919, Father Breen was succeeded by the present pastor, the Rev. Charles E. Muckle, and under his able management the church debt has been reduced from seventeen thousand, eight hundred dollars to seventy-eight hundred dollars. The church has a fine pipe organ, donated in 1920 by Frank P. Conlon, a prominent citizen of Mount Morris, in memory of his wife. There are six hundred communicants in the church.
REV. CHARLES E. MUCKLE.
Rev. Charles E. Muckle was born in Middlesex, Yates county, New York, May 1, 1885, a son of Thomas and Margaret (Delaney) Muckle, residents of Stanley, New York, who reared a family of nine children: John, pastor of St. Thomas' church at Somerville, New York; Elizabeth, now Mother Mary Charles of the Sisters of Mercy at Rochester; Charles E .; Joseph T., a member of the community of St. Basil, who was formerly president of Assumption College at Sandwich, Canada, and who is now stationed at Houston, Texas; William D., who is identified with the archdiocese of Toronto, Canada, and who is at present a student at the Canadian College in Rome, Italy; Leo, who acts as manager of the Farm Bureau of Niagara county, New York; Jane, who is engaged in teaching in Rochester; Mary, who is the wife of John E. McWilliams of Stanley, New York; and Andrew, who follows the occupation of farming at Stanley. The family is noted for its piety and devotion to the faith and five of the children are in the service of the Catholic church.
Charles E. Muckle attended the public schools and Penn Yan Academy of New York, later becoming a student at St. Michael's College of Toronto, Canada, and St. Bernard's Seminary at Rochester, New York. He was ordained to the priesthood in June, 1912, and was first assigned to duty as assistant at St. Mary's church at Auburn, New York, where he was stationed from 1912 until 1914. For four years thereafter he acted as superintendent of the Rochester Catholic high school and has since been pastor of St. Patrick's Catholic church at Mount Morris. He also has charge of the Holy Angels church at Nunda and the Holy Name church at Groveland, both in Livingston county. His religious instruction has proven a tangible force for good and his course has at all times awakened admiration and respect.
G. HARVEY VAN BLARICOM.
With efficiency as his motto G. Harvey Van Blaricom of Rochester has steadily progressed since his initial effort was made in the business world and is now at the head of important financial interests, the success of the undertaking proving the quality of his mind and his powers of organization. He was born in Belleville, Canada, May 17, 1880, and comes of ancient English lineage, tracing his ancestral line to William, prince of Orange. His parents, Almon B. and Phoebe A. (Ferguson) Van Blaricom, were natives of the state of New York, removing thence to Canada shortly after their marriage. They remained in the Dominion until 1890 and then returned to the States, settling in Rochester. The father was long in the employ of the East- man Kodak Company, which he served in the capacity of foreman for about twenty years. In 1913 he was killed in an automobile accident. The mother is still living in the city.
G. Harvey Van Blaricom is the younger in a family of two children. He was graduated from one of the high schools of Rochester in 1896 and next became a student in the Rochester Business Institute, completing his course in 1900. He se- cured a position as private secretary to J. G. Kaelber and Mr. Rolfe, prominent capitalists of this city, and was thus engaged for six years. On the termination of that period he entered the service of Brewster, Gordon & Company, wholesale grocers, and remained with that firm until 1910, when ambition prompted him to establish a business of his own. He entered the field of investment banking, in which he has continued, and that his choice was a wise one is indicated by the success which has attended his operations. The business is conducted under the name of the Continental
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Securities Corporation, of which Mr. Van Blaricom is the president, and a well- merited reputation for reliability and integrity has won for the house a large and desirable clientele. Mr. Van Blaricom is unmarried and resides with his mother at No. 156 Shepard street in Rochester. He is actuated at all times by an accurate sense of business exigency, manifesting keen sagacity in the conduct of his affairs, and his success is well deserved, for it has been won by hard work and honorable dealing.
BERT CLAYTON DAVIS.
Bert Clayton Davis, who has contributed to Elmira's commercial prosperity through the able administration of the affairs of the American Warming & Ventilating Com- pany, was born November 21, 1871, in Richardson county, Nebraska, a son of Thomas C. and Eliza (Babcock) Davis, both of whom were natives of Ohio. The father went to Kansas early in the '50s and subsequently removed to Nebraska. In 1852 the mother arrived in the latter state, in which they were married, and six children were born to them. All are living and the subject of this sketch is the oldest of the family. Thomas C. Davis took up a homestead in Valley county, Nebraska, and by hard work and systematic methods converted his land into a productive, well improved farm. He now resides in Elmira during the summer season and in Florida during the winter months. Mrs. Davis has passed away. The father is a Seventh Day Baptist and his political support is given to the republican party. He served in the Home Guard during the Civil war and was a strong abolitionist.
The public schools of Des Moines, Iowa, afforded Bert Clayton Davis his educa- tional opportunities and his first work was in connection with the heating and plumb- ing business, with which he has been identified since 1895. He became chief engineer for Lewis & Kitchen, a well known plumbing and heating firm of Chicago and Kansas City. He came to Elmira in 1914 and purchased the controlling interest in the Ameri- can Warming & Ventilating Company. The business is incorporated and Mr. Davis is president, treasurer and general manager of the company, which does a large business in heating, plumbing and sheet metal work and also builds power plants.
At Des Moines, Iowa, on June 25, 1896, Mr. Davis was married to Miss Nettie May Cooley, who was born in Muscatine, that state, and received her education in Des Moines. To this union has been born a daughter, Naomi Margaret, now a student in the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are members of the First Baptist church and Mr. Davis is one of its trustees. He is a republican in politics. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order, belonging to Ivy Lodge, No. 397, F. & A. M .; Elmira Chapter, No. 42, R. A. M .; Southern Tier Council, No. 16, R. & S. M .; St. Omer's Commandery, No. 49, K. T .; Kalurah Temple of the Mystic Shrine; and Cashmere Grotto, No. 11, M. O. V. P. E. R. He is also connected with the Masonic Club, the Elmira Country Club and the Rotary Club, being a charter member and director of the last named organization. He like- wise belongs to the American Society of Heating & Ventilating Engineers.
MICHAEL SLACK.
Michael Slack, the first president of the Medina Foundry Company of Medina, Orleans county, was a long-time resident and prominent business man of western New York. He was born August 11, 1840, in County Sligo, Ireland, and in 1847 came to the United States with his parents, who first established their home in New Jersey, while the year 1849 witnessed their arrival in Medina, New York. As a soldier of the Union army during the period of the Civil war, Michael Slack was in the field for three long years with the Seventeenth New York Separate Battery. He participated in the siege of Petersburg and in the closing battles of the sanguinary conflict between the north and the south.
Michael Slack engaged in the grocery business as a member of the firm of M. & J. Slack and at the same time established the Slack Quarries in Holley, New York, successfully continuing their operation for many years. This quarry property eventually became a part of the merger forming the Medina Quarry Company, of which Mr. Slack was made assistant treasurer. It was in 1901 that he organized the Medina Foundry Company for the manufacture of cast-iron pipe and fittings and plumbing supplies. He continued in this business until his death, at which time his
Michael Slack
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son, B. Edward Slack, succeeded him in the presidency of the Medina Foundry Com- pany, the original officers of which were as follows: Michael Slack, president; B. Edward Slack, secretary and treasurer; and O. F. Butts, vice president. The concern now employs one hundred men and turns out four thousand, five hundred tons of finished material annually. Sales are made through plumbing supply houses. Michael Slack was also a factor in financial circles as a director of the Union Bank of Medina and as vice president of the Medina Savings & Loan Association.
On May 12, 1870, Michael Slack was united in marriage to Miss Katherine Dolan and they became the parents of four children: Anna Louise, B. Edward, Thomas J., and James V. Anna Louise, who is deceased, was the wife of George L. Owens of Medina.
B. Edward Slack was born in Medina on the 9th of October, 1876, pursued his education in the public schools of that place and began his business career in his father's grocery. He later became connected with the Medina Foundry Company as secretary and treasurer and upon the death of his father succeeded him in the presidency. He is also a director of the Union Bank of Medina and president of the Medina Savings & Loan Association. Politically he may be termed an independent democrat and he has ably served his community as a member of the school board for nine years. He wedded Miss Bertha Warne of Medina, and they are the parents of a son, Edward T.
Thomas J. Slack was born on the 21st of December, 1878, and after leaving the Medina high school entered Canisius College of Buffalo, from which institution he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1900. Since that time he has been active in the conduct of the business of the Medina Foundry Company, of which concern he is now secretary and treasurer.
James V. Slack was born October 17, 1884, and graduated from the Medina high school and subsequently spent two years as a student in Holy Cross College at Wor- cester, Massachusetts. He was employed in the Union Bank of Medina for four or five years prior to embarking in his present business as a retail shoe merchant of Medina. To him and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Irene Horrigan, have been born three children: Robert M., James V., Jr., and Howard B.
Michael Slack, the father of the above named, always took a great interest in Medina and its growth and prosperity. He served the village as trustee for several terms and was on the school board for many years. He was a democrat in politics but never very active politically, and the love of his home community was his first interest. Mr. Slack was widely recognized as a business man of ability and fore- sight. He followed the trend of the times and with the mechanical expansion of the country saw his opportunity and established the large concern which he headed until the time of his death. His love for his home town was shown in naming the factory the Medina Foundry Company and the plant has been a mainstay for the workingmen of Medina for more than twenty years. He departed this life on the 4th of February, 1917, in Medina, when in the seventy-seventh year of his age.
B. M. MARCUS.
B. M. Marcus of Olean, New York, is president of Metro Stations, Incorporated, retailers and wholesalers of petroleum products. He has built his business as a natural sequence to his earlier work as an oil producer and few concerns have had the amazing growth in four years as that enjoyed by Metro Stations. Under the trade name "Metro" the concern has both bulk stations and filling stations spread over Chautauqua, Allegany, Cattaraugus, Livingston and parts of Chemung and Steuben counties, New York, and Tioga, Potter and parts of Mckean and Cameron counties, Pennsylvania. Mr. Marcus is a producer in Bradford field, Pennsylvania, New York state, Oklahoma and Kansas. The officers of the corporation are: B. M. Marcus, president and secretary-treasurer; and H. W. Marcus, vice president.
B. M. Marcus was born in Olean, November 28, 1884, the son of H. W. Marcus. He attended Olean high school and Columbia University, and later was with his father in the mercantile business in Olean and also started his oil business (producing). In his spare time he studied law, which was to prove of value to him in his business career. He was at one time secretary-treasurer of H. W. Marcus & Company, a busi- ness now sold to other interests. He is secretary of the Olean Improvement Company and part owner of Olean's largest hotel, The Olean House. He is also a director of the Chamber of Commerce.
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Mr. Marcus served for a year in the navy during the World war. He is now chairman of the Olean Red Cross and has served as post commander of the American Legion. He was a delegate to the progressive party convention in 1912, and is now a republican. He is a Mason, a member of the City Club, the Bartlett Country Club and other organizations.
THOMAS HOWARD REMINGTON.
Thomas Howard Remington, a young attorney of Rochester, is associated with his father in practice as a member of the firm of Remington & Remington. He is a veteran of the World war and was commissioned captain. He was born in Caledonia, Livingston county, New York, on the 4th of September, 1891, his parents being the Hon. Harvey Foote and Mary Agnes (Brodie) Remington, also natives of the Empire state. On another page of this work may be found extended reference to the father, a leading representative of the legal profession in Rochester who formerly sat on the bench as judge of the municipal court.
In the acquirement of an education Thomas Howard Remington attended the grade and high schools of Rochester and later the University of Rochester, from which institution he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1911. Having decided to follow in the professional footsteps of his father, he then read law under the latter's direction for one year, after which he matriculated in the Harvard Law School, which in 1915 conferred upon him the degree of LL. B. After returning to Rochester he engaged in law practice here until 1916, when he enlisted for military service and was detailed to the Mexican border, where he remained from July, 1916, until March of the following year as a member of Troop H, New York Cavalry. He reenlisted on the 13th of May, 1917, and was sent to the Officers Training Camp at Madison Barracks. On the 15th of August following he was commissioned captain and on the 29th of August was transferred to Camp Dix, whence he was sent overseas. Captain Remington participated in the St. Mihiel and Argonne drives and was dis- charged with the rank of major on the 6th of August, 1919. Since returning to Rochester, Mr. Remington has been actively engaged in law practice as a partner of his father. He is a member of the Rochester Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association and is secretary of the Buyahome Building Corporation of this city.
On the 15th of August, 1917, Mr. Remington was married to Miss Edith Ryder, daughter of Thomas B. Ryder of Rochester. They have two daughters: Ann Ryder, who was born October 12, 1918; and Jane Ryder, born October 18, 1920. Mr. Reming- ton belongs to the American Legion, the Military Order of the World War and the Sons of the American Revolution and likewise has membership connection with the University Club, the Harvard Club of New York and with two Greek letter fraternities, Alpha Delta Phi and Phi Beta Kappa. His residence is at No. 309 Canterbury road.
ALBERT CHILD WALKER.
Albert Child Walker, who passed away on September 1, 1924, had been connected with the book and stationery business through a period covering nearly two-thirds of a century, and was at the head of Scrantom's, Incorporated, of Rochester, conduct- ing one of the largest book stores of the country and also handling stationery and athletic goods. His birth occurred in Clarkson, Monroe county, New York, on Janu- ary 15, 1845, his parents being Albert E. and Frances M. (Child) Walker. He attended grammar school in the acquirement of an education and when fifteen years of age left the schoolroom and entered the book and stationery business, with which he was identified the remainder of his life. He joined the firm of Scrantom, Wetmore & Company eighteen months after its organization in 1868, and had been a member thereof for more than fifty-five years when the enterprise was changed to Scrantom's, Incorporated, with Mr. Walker as president of the board of directors. Through all these years his well-directed efforts constituted a potent factor in the continued growth and expansion of the concern, which, as above stated, now conducts one of the largest book stores of the country and also deals in social stationery, leather goods, art novelties, pictures and framing, educational supplies, commercial stationery, office furniture, loose leaf devices, games and toys and sporting goods.
The religious faith of Mr. Walker was indicated by his membership in Christ
ALBERT C. WALKER
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Episcopal church, with which he became connected in 1855, at the time of its organiza- tion, while for more than four decades he was vestryman and warden. For several years he was a member of the standing committee of the diocese of western New York. He had been identified with the Rochester Chamber of Commerce since its organization and was helpfully interested in all movements looking toward the improvement of civic conditions. Nearly his entire life was spent in Monroe county and his career was ever such as to commend him to the confidence and esteem of his fellowmen, and none grudged him his prosperity, so honorably had it been won and so worthily used.
DONALD A. SCOTT.
After many years devoted to railroad work, in which his first position was that of telegraph operator, and then a few more years in the hardware business, Donald A. Scott became postmaster of Caledonia, Livingston county, New York, and is now serving his first term in public office. He was born in Mumford, Monroe county, New York, on March 9, 1865, the son of William Oliver and Jeannette (Mckinsey) Scott, both natives of Scotland.
After completing his education in the district public schools Donald A. Scott began work as a telegraph operator at Craig Station, on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, and afterward in succession worked at Piffard, Retsof and York on the same company's line. From the telegraph key he was promoted to the position of city freight agent and stationed at Geneva, New York. Mr. Scott resigned this position in 1910 to engage in the hardware business with N. K. Marvin at Caledonia, a connection that lasted twelve years. On January 9, 1923, the late President Harding appointed Mr. Scott postmaster at Caledonia, and he is now serving in that capacity. Mr. Scott is also clerk and a trustee of the Caledonia high school board.
Mr. Scott was married in July, 1923, to Pearl Christian of Carbondale, Penn- sylvania. He is a republican in his political views, and in religion holds to the Pres- byterian faith. Fraternally Mr. Scott is a member of Eunice Lodge, No. 830, F. & A. M., in which he has filled all the chairs and has been treasurer for a number of years.
J. VINCENT ALEXANDER.
For more than two decades J. Vincent Alexander has figured prominently in busi- ness circles of Rochester, his native city, as general manager of the National Life Insurance Company of Montpelier, Vermont, and industry, ability and devotion to duty have placed him in the creditable position which he now occupies. He was born October 27, 1854, and his parents, John and Fannie Elizabeth Wood (Linton) Alex- ander, were natives of England. They came to the United States in early life and the father became secretary of the C. B. Woodworth Company of Rochester. He was one of the most prominent Masons of the Genesee country and was made secretary of all the Masonic lodges of the state, filling that office for many years. His life was a long, upright and useful one and closed in 1917, when he had reached the venerable age of ninety. The mother passed away in Rochester, in November, 1913, at the age of eighty-three years.
J. Vincent Alexander attended the public schools and completed his education in the Rochester Free Academy. After his graduation he entered the employ of the Flour City National Bank and through faithful, conscientious work rose from the position of messenger to that of paying teller. On severing his connection with that institution he assumed the duties of general agent of the National Life Insurance Company and for twenty-two years has been in the service of this corporation, which numbers him among its most efficient and trustworthy representatives.
On September 7, 1888, Mr. Alexander was united in marriage to Miss L. Jeannette Bidwell of Rochester, and their only child is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander find much enjoyment in travel and are planning a trip to Europe in the near future. They are affiliated with the Unitarian church and Mr. Alexander is secretary of the Rochester Historical Society. For the past ten years he has been identified with the Archaeological Society and for eight years was manager of the Rochester Festival Chorus, having pronounced musical tastes. He is a life member of Hamilton Chapter, R. A. M., and gives his political support to the democratic party, but has never aspired to public office. Whatever touches the welfare and progress of his city is a
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matter close to his heart and he is keenly interested in the history of the Genesee country, a subject on which he is well informed. Mr. Alexander derives much pleasure and enjoyment from life, for his interests and activities are well balanced, and his personal qualities are those which make for popularity.
FRANK J. ALVERSON.
When the members of the bar of Dansville, Livingston county, New York, are mentally segregated in groups based upon their legal attainments and abilities Mr. Alverson is always placed in the first group, not of Dansville alone, but of the entire legal body of Livingston county. He was born at Dansville, on July 20, 1867, the son of Augustus A. and Maria (Cole) Alverson. He has two brothers. The father is living and is within a few years of the age of ninety.
Frank J. Alverson received his early education in the grade and high schools, and then began to read law in the office of J. M. McNair at Dansville, and also read in the offices of other notable men of the Dansville bar of the last generation, including Noyes, Bissell and Foss, being admitted to the bar on March 30, 1893. Before his admission to the bar Mr. Alverson had been west and spent three years in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has always practiced in Dansville, and has held the offices of police justice and justice of the peace.
On July 19, 1893, Mr. Alverson was married to Maria Remmel of Corning, New York. They have one son, Donald R., now attending the Buffalo Medical College. Fraternally Mr. Alverson is affiliated with the Masonic order and with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.
JOHN P. BOYLAN.
John P. Boylan came to Rochester in the summer of 1921 as the new vice presi- dent and general manager of the Rochester Telephone Corporation. More than twenty-five years of experience in the telephone industry had well qualified Mr. Boylan to assume the duties of manager of this large and rapidly growing public service corporation. He entered the employ of the Cleveland Bell Telephone Company in 1895 as time-keeper for a subway construction gang. From this position he rose through the intermediate steps of installer's helper, installer and supply agent to the rank of exchange manager. In 1903 he left the Cleveland Telephone Company to accept a position as general traffic manager for the Cuyahoga Telephone Com- pany of Cleveland. Four years later he resigned this position to become general traffic manager for the Detroit Home Telephone Company. In 1909 Mr. Boylan returned to Cleveland to open an office as consulting engineer, specializing in traffic work, but in 1913 he gave up this work to accept the position of general manager of the Mountain Home Telephone Company, with headquarters at Plattsburg, New York. On the 1st of August, 1921, Mr. Boylan was appointed vice president and general manager of the Rochester Telephone Corporation.
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