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 67
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From 1859 until 1864 Mr. Arnot acted as president of the village of Elmira. In the latter year ' Elmira became a city and he was chosen its first mayor. He was returned to the office in 1870 and 1874. In 1882 he was elected congressman from his home district on the democratic ticket. He served in the forty-eighth session of Congress and on the completion of his term was reelected, having been the unanimous choice of both parties.
On June 2, 1858, John Arnot, Jr., was married to Anne Elizabeth Hulett of Horseheads, who was born April 16, 1837, the daughter of Charles and Anne E. (Munson) Hulett, and died in December, 1907. To Mr. and Mrs. Arnot were born four children, namely: Harriet, wife of the late James B. Rathbone; John Hulett; Matthias Charles, and Edward Munson, who died in infancy.
MATTHIAS H. ARNOT.
The history of Elmira is, in great measure, a record of the men who by their labor and achievements have contributed to its progress and development. Some of these men became truly great and among them was the late Matthias H. Arnot, a worthy member of one of the city's most notable families and one who accomplished much. He was not a seeker of publicity and his efforts were usually cloaked with characteristic modesty, but in many enterprises designed for the public good and in many movements of beneficial nature he was the guiding influence. As a banker and business man he was unexcelled, even by the brilliant men who were his contempor- aries. Personally he possessed those qualities which endeared him to countless friends. He was astute, honorable, sympathetic and courageous, qualities which brought him success in life and which have assured him a conspicuous place in the 'nna's of Elmira and western New York. Matthias Hollenback Arnot was born in E'mira. Chemung county, New York, November 10, 1833, a son of John Arnot, Sr., ird Harriet ( Tuttle) Arnot, who are mentioned on another page of this volume.
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Matthias H. Arnot received his early education in the schools of his native city and completed his education in Yale University. He interested himself in athletics while at Yale and at one time was stroke oar on the varsity crew. After leaving Yale he immediately returned to Elmira and entered his father's bank, the Chemung Canal Bank. In the year 1873 he was elected president of this institution and served with distinction and noteworthy success in this position until 1910, in which year, on February 15th, he passed away. His connection with this bank was his greatest work in life, to which he devoted himself almost exclusively. He did not seek public office, but he did take great pride in two official connnections which he retained for many years-memberships on the reformatory board of managers and the Elmira board of education. Mr. Arnot never married.
Matthias H. Arnot was a member of the City Club of Elmira, the Yale Alumni Association, the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, and the Union, Manhattan and Metro- politan Clubs of New York city. In politics he was a democrat and his religious affiliation was with the Episcopal church. He was intensely interested in art during his life and made a notable collection of paintings which are now housed in the Arnot Art Gallery, his gift to Elmira, the story of which institution is presented elsewhere in this work.
ORRIN C. LAKE.
Commercial activity in Groveland has received marked impetus from the enter- prising spirit and systematic efforts of Orrin C. Lake, who for thirty-three years has engaged in the grain and produce business in this section of Livingston county. He was born on a farm in the township of Mount Morris, February 15, 1864, and his parents were Jerome A. and Louise M. (Curtis) Lake. The surviving members of the family are: Harry P. and Sarah L., both of whom are residents of Bath, New York; and Orrin C. of this review.
Orrin C. Lake received a good education, attending the public schools, the Geneseo Normal School, and Colgate Academy at Hamilton, New York. He followed the occupation of farming until he reached the age of twenty and in 1886 became book- keeper for the Genesee Valley Manufacturing Company, with which he remained for three years. He next became yardmaster and weighmaster for the Retsof Mining Company, devoting two years to that work, and then went to Virginia, where he entered the real estate field. A year later Mr. Lake returned to the north and since October 1, 1891, has engaged in the grain and produce business in Groveland. He is now a member of the firm of Ewart & Lake and the business has been incorporated. Mr. Lake is thoroughly informed on everything pertaining to the trade and at the time of its establishment became a director of the Groveland State Bank but at present is not an officer of that institution. He is one of the best known grain and produce merchants of Livingston county and is conducting a business of substantial proportions, developed by hard work and wise management.
On the 25th of March, 1891, Mr. Lake was united in marriage to Miss Helen M. Ewart of Groveland, and they have a son, George E., who is associated with his father in business. Mr. Lake is a thirty-second degree Mason and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He is a trustee of the Presbyterian church and his political support is given to the republican party. He is a man of well balanced capacities and powers who has steadily progressed since his initial effort was made in the field of business, and his course has been characterized by honor and integrity in every relation of life.
W. SLAYTON WILSON.
W. Slayton Wilson, president and founder of W. Slayton Wilson, Incorporated, is one of Rochester's representative business men and well known citizens. He was born in Macedon, Wayne county, New York, on the 17th of June, 1883, his parents being John A. and Laura A. (McIntyre) Wilson, the former a native of Bennington, Vermont, and the latter of West Monroe, Oswego county, New York. John A. Wilson has resided in various parts of the country and at one time was engaged in lead mining in the Joplin, Missouri, district. He is now living retired in Los Angeles, California.
W. Slayton Wilson received his early education in the schools of this city, graduating from the Mechanics Institute in 1902. He then entered the Massa-
MATTHIAS H. ARNOT
JOHN ARNOT, JR.
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chusetts Institute of Technology, which conferred upon him the degree of M. E. in 1906. The following year he was graduated from Lehigh University of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. After about six months association with R. F. Woodward, known as the "Jello" king, he embarked in the real estate business on his own account in Rochester. Notable among his activities in this field was the purchase of the property at the corner of Chestnut and James street, where he erected one of the most modern and up-to-date apartment buildings that up to that time had been constructed in Rochester. This apartment, known as the Wilsonia, was sold by Mr. Wilson in 1918. Subsequently he disposed of his principal real estate interests and in November, 1921, organized W. Slayton Wilson, Incorporated, underwriters and insurance en- gineers, of which he has since been the executive head.
The following interesting paragraph concerning Mr. Wilson appeared in a local publication : "W. Slayton Wilson, Rochester clubman, former president of the Men's Club of St. Paul's Episcopal church, had a boyhood ambition to be the owner of a small grocery store because he 'could have an unlimited supply of candy and cookies' whenever he wanted to-'without cost'. How he changed his mind and became a member of the Rochester insurance world is told by him as follows:
" 'I was born in Macedon, but came to Rochester when a boy. I was a student at high school here, then at Mechanics Institute, afterward going to the Massa- chusetts Institute of Technology and then to Lehigh University. My childhood idea of becoming the operator of a country grocery store soon waned when I started to see the city and I decided that I would look around for some vocation that meant excitement and at the same time the opportunity to make good. I first tried my hand at mining and became interested in some mines in Missouri. I gave that up later for timberlands in British Columbia. Next I came back to Rochester, where I started building small houses. I built the Wilsonia on Chestnut street, which was named after me. Real estate was too fluctuating and I looked for something that remained staple whether times were good or bad. I discovered the insurance business was the one I was seeking and I went into that and have been at it since. My motto is simple-just that of following the Golden Rule.'"
In October, 1908, Mr. Wilson was married to Miss Louise B. Pixley of Le Roy, New York, daughter of Charles B. Pixley, a prominent ranchman and cattle raiser of Wyoming. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have a daughter: Jane Burden, who was born in Rochester on March 18, 1915.
Mr. Wilson has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, belonging to Frank R. Lawrence Lodge, F. & A. M .; Batavia Commandery, K. T .; and Damascus Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. His religious faith is indicated by his member- ship in St. Paul's Episcopal church and, as previously stated, he has served as president of its Men's Club. In club circles he is well known and popular, belonging to the Washington Club, the Rochester Club, the Rochester Yacht Club, the Rochester Ad Club, the Rochester Auto Club, the Rochester Tennis Club and the Technology Club of Rochester. He is also a member of Delta Tau Delta, the Rochester Chamber of Commerce and of Company A of the Boys in Blue. The material prosperity which has come to Mr. Wilson is due to his own efforts. The elements were happily blended in the rounding out of his nature, for he unites the refinements of life with the sterner qualities of manhood and his efforts are resultant factors in everything he undertakes.
ARCHIE LORNE HALE.
It has been said that nine out of every ten men drift into the type of work for which they are best fitted. Seldom does it happen, however, that anyone enters upon his life work so literally by accident as was the case with Archie Lorne Hale, sec- retary and treasurer of the George R. Fuller Company of Rochester. He was born in Trout River, New York, on the 13th of December, 1875, a son of Arthur E. and Alice (Patterson) Hale, the former a native of the Empire state and the latter of Canada. They have always resided in this state, where the father engaged in the marble industry. He is still active, although he has lived to celebrate his seventy- third birthday. Mrs. Hale passed away twenty years ago.
Archie Lorne Hale was educated in the public schools and the Norwood Free Academy, from which he graduated in 1896. After preparing himself for a com- mercial career by taking a business course in the Albany Business College of Albany, he secured a position with the New York Central Railroad and worked his way up to the position of supervisor of bridges in the Watertown (New York) office. At
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this period in his career the young man fell ill and as his break-down in health was ascribed to too much indoor confinement he took the advice of his physician and applied for an outside job. As a temporary expedient he took a situation with the New York Central as a brakeman. Unfortunately his lack of familiarity with this sort of work led to a very serious accident in less than a week's time. Mr. Hale was thrown under the wheels of a moving freight train in the yards and narrowly escaped with his life. As it was, one leg was so badly crushed that it had to be amputated at the knee and the unfortunate victim of the accident was confined in a hospital for many weeks. When at last he was able to be up and about, Mr. Hale came to Rochester to the George R. Fuller Company, to have an artificial limb fitted in place of the one he had lost. He became so interested in the work of this concern through this contact with it that he accepted a clerical position in its office in 1903. Since then Mr. Hale's advancement has been steady and consistent. Pro- gressing through the various departments as fast as he mastered the various essen- tial details of the firm's work, he was promoted from one responsible position to the other until he is today secretary, treasurer and general manager of the George R. Fuller Company, which positions he has held since 1921. The George R. Fuller Company is engaged in the manufacture of artificial limbs and trusses. In addition to its Rochester plant and store it maintains branch establishments in Buffalo, Boston and Philadelphia.
In New York city, on June 2, 1903, Mr. Hale was united in marriage to Miss Mary Maguire, daughter of Patrick Maguire of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Hale have one child: Arthur J. Hale, born in Rochester on March 31, 1904. He is a graduate of the Rochester high school and is now assistant manager of the Old Colony Club of Rochester. During his more than twenty years of residence in this city Mr. Hale has made many friends and acquaintances in business and social circles. He has come to the front through the sheer force of merit and ability, for he has worked his way up from the ranks and done so in the face of a handicap that would have disheartened a less courageous man than he. His residence is at No. 93 Iceland park.
CORNELIUS O'DEA.
Cornelius O'Dea, attorney at law, practicing in Elmira, was born December 21, 1884, in Horseheads, Chemung county, New York, and is a son of Michael and Mary (McInerney) O'Dea, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of this city. Four children were born to them and Cornelius of this review is the oldest member of the family and the only son. Mr. and Mrs. O'Dea are living in Elmira and for many years the former was engineer for the Standard Oil Company. He is an adherent of the democratic party and a Catholic in religious faith.
Cornelia O'Dea was graduated from the high school at Horseheads and after- ward became an employe of the Standard Oil Company, remaining with that corpora- tion for a year. He read law in the office and under the direction of A. C. and J. P. Eustace, well known attorneys of Elmira, and was admitted to the bar in 1906, when twenty-two years of age. He was connected with the firm of Eustace & Eustace until 1913 and for the next five years practiced alone. In 1918 he formed a partnership with Michael Danaher, who became senior member of the firm, and this relationship has been continued. They are general practitioners, maintaining offices in the Huelett building.
Mr. O'Dea is a faithful communicant of the Catholic church and belongs to the Knights of Columbus and Father Matthew's Temperance Society. He is a stanch democrat in politics and in 1916 was the local candidate of the party for the office of essemblyman. He was a member of the board of aldermen for three terms.
BENJAMIN W. WELLINGTON.
Benjamin W. Wellington, postmaster, banker and business man, public-spirited individual and republican leader, has been active in almost every community and large business enterprise of Corning. Since 1884 he has labored in the interests of the town in a large way and has served as mayor, supervisor, chief of the fire department and in many other official and responsible capacities. Under his direction
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many of Corning's most noteworthy improvements came into being. The public library came about through the donation of an institution of this nature and Benja- min W. Wellington's service helped make it prosper. In short, he is an integral part of Corning and has been called upon for every sort of public service. He was born in Corning, March 23, 1861, the son of Quincy W. and Matilda Briggs (Wickham) Wellington.
Benjamin W. Wellington was educated in the public schools and Harvard Uni- versity, graduating from that famous college in 1883. He then returned to Corning and started in the banking business with his father. This bank was a private insti- tution, which was known as the Wellington Bank and was conducted by father and son until 1920, when Quincy W. Wellington died at the age of eighty-seven. The father had always remained president and the son vice president of the bank. Following the father's death Benjamin W. Wellington sold the bank to the Corning Trust Company.
Besides his banking business Benjamin W. Wellington has taken a great interest in politics and has served Corning and Steuben county well. Almost as soon as he left college he began to take an active part in the work of the Grand Old Party, and this interest has continued ever since. He was twice elected supervisor for the town of Corning. During the second term Corning became a city and this legislated him out of office. He was the second mayor of the city, served as chief of the fire department for two terms and served on the board of water commissioners and on the board of river commissioners. Over two hundred thousand dollars was spent under his direction by the waterworks board for enlargement of the pumping station, extension of mains and a new reservoir, and one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars more for the erection of the dyke to protect the north side of Corning. This dyke was built during his term as mayor and he appointed the commission, of which he later became treasurer. He was president of the Library Association for several years, his father having been the donor of the library to Corning. Quincy Wellington purchased the library from the founder, Colonel Thompson, and turned it over to the city. Benjamin Wellington has served on city republican committees and has attended several state conventions as a delegate. . He was appointed postmaster of Corning on February 1, 1923, by President Harding. He made no attempt to gain this office but his many friends in the city urged his appointment and he received the nomination. Corning postoffice is of first class rating and is the busiest one in the county.
Mr. Wellington was married on September 23, 1886, to Anna Ballard Robinson, and they have four children: Gertrude, who is now Mrs. Stanwood Edwards Flitner of Englewood, New Jersey; Miss Catherine Wellington, a graduate of Vassar who was vice president of her class, is a Phi Beta Kappa and was secretary of the Vassar endowment. She also studied in Columbia University and is now studying English and Psychology at London University, England; Beatrice is now Mrs. Ralph Edward Ogden of New York city; and Quincy Wellington, (II), is a junior at the University of Michigan.
Mr. Wellington is a member of the Christ Episcopal church and was vestryman for many years. He is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, member of the Corning Country Club, the Harvard Club of New York city, and a life member of the Corning Club. He has been a credit to Corning in every undertaking and his place in the community is a fixed one, the worthy son of an illustrious father.
EDWARD CHARLES EDELMAN.
Edward Charles Edelman, one of the leading and successful representatives of the legal profession in the city of Rochester, has been engaged in general law practice in Rochester during the past twenty-seven years. His birth occurred in this city on the 23d of March, 1874, his parents being Lewis and Mary A. (George) Edelman. The father, who for a half century has been connected with the coal trade in Rochester, developing an extensive business in this direction, was born in Baden, Germany, his parents being Joseph and Margaret Edelman, who were likewise natives of that country.
Lewis Edelman, the father of Edward C. Edelman, accompanied his parents on their emigration to the United States in 1851, attending St. Joseph's parochial school. After putting aside his textbooks he began learning the printing trade, devoting three years to that work. He next turned his attention to the harness-making
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trade, which he folowed from 1860 until 1868. In that year he began business on his own account in the old Sibley building on Main street, where he continued until 1874, when he retired from the harness business and turned his attention to the coal trade. He has prospered as a coal merchant and is still active in this business as president of the Edelman Coal Company. A resident here from early boyhood, he has become widely and favorably known throughout the city and enjoys an enviable reputation as one of its prosperous and enterprising business men.
In 1873 Lewis Edelman was married to Miss Mary A. George, a native of Rochester, who was a daughter of Andrew and Mary A. George. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Edelman became the parents of ten children, six of whom are living: Edward C., of this review; Caroline, who is a member of a religious order; Rev. Louis W., who is the pastor at the church of St. Louis at Pittsford; George L., vice president of the Edelman Coal Company; Rev. Adolph, assistant pastor of the Holy Redeemer church; and Pauline, also a member of a religious order. The family are communicants of the Catholic church and in politics Lewis Edelman is a prominent democrat, who for some years past has been an influential factor in the councils of his party. As an alder- man representing the old thirteenth and seventh wards he has exercised his official prerogatives in support of many measures that are deemed of great benefit to Rochester.
Edward C. Edelman, whose name introduces this review, supplemented his parochial school training by a public school course and attendance at Georgetown University. He then began reading law in the office of Mr. Morrison H. McMath and in 1897 was admitted to the bar, after which he entered at once upon active practice in Rochester, which city has since numbered him among its able attorneys. As a general practitioner his clientage is extensive and of an important character. His diligence and energy in the preparation of his cases, as well as the earnestness, tenacity and courage with which he defends the right, as he understands it, challenge the highest admiration of his associates. He invariably seeks to present his argument in the strong, clear light of common reason and sound logical principle. Mr. Edelman served as assistant corporation counsel in 1898 and 1899.
On the 15th of June, 1905, in Rochester, Mr. Edelman was united in marriage to Miss Rose Gaffney, daughter of John Gaffney, representing a prominent family of this city. Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Edelman have become the parents of a daughter and two sons: Rosemary, who was born in May, 1906, and is a graduate of Nazareth Academy; John L., whose birth occurred in Rochester in 1913 and who is a student in Nazareth Hall; and Robert J., who was born in this city in 1920. Fraternally Mr. Edelman is a third degree Knight of Columbus. He is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce and is actively identified with the Rochester Bar Association. In the city of Rochester, where his life has been spent, the circle of his friends is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances. Mr. Edelman's residence is at No. 433 Maplewood avenue.
DELMAR M. DARRIN.
For fifty years Delmar M. Darrin has practiced law in Addison, New York, and has been an integral and important part of the community life of that town. The ninth in descent of the Knapp and Darrin families in America, he has well carried on the family traditions of honesty, goodwill and service to the people about him. He was born in Barrington, south of Penn Yan, New York, June 6, 1849, the son of David and Mary Jane (Mathers) Darrin. When he was three years old the parents moved to Addison, where he has since resided.
Delmar M. Darrin attended the public schools and Cornell University, where he took the academic course and then read law in the office of John W. Dinning in Addison. He was admitted to the bar in 1875 and has conducted a general practice in Addison for half a century. He has held the office of referee in bankruptcy since 1901, and was also corporation counsel for some time. He has been a lifelong republican.
Mr. Darrin was married on June 22, 1876, to Mary Hill Dawson of Plainfield, New Jersey. They had three children, two of whom are living: Hugh Webster Darrin, the son, was educated at Hamilton College and the Albany Law School, and was in part- nership with his father for a number of years under the name of Darrin & Darrin, with office in Corning, until the death of the son in 1917; one daughter, Helen, is now Mrs. Charles E. Robertson of Atlanta, Georgia; the other daughter, Miss Katherine
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Darrin, saw much service overseas during the World war, as a member of the Red Cross organization, and was assigned to civilian relief duty in Southern France. Later she was sent to the American Embassy at Le Mans, where her duties brought her into contact with the officers and the best society of France. She is a speaker on current topics and has large classes in a dozen towns in southern New York.
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