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 81
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James E. Nash, whose name introduces this review, pursued his early education in the grammar and high schools of his native city and continued his studies in the Wesleyan Academy, from which institution he was graduated in 1894. He then en- tered the manufacturing department of the Worcester Salt Company, in which he has remained through the intervening period of thirty years, winning steady advancement as he demonstrated his ability in the capable discharge of the duties entrusted to him. It was in 1914 that he was made general superintendent and a director of the corpora- tion, which he has thus represented to the present time, his sound judgment and his thorough knowledge of the business proving valuable factors in its successful control. He is vice president of the Silver Springs National Bank.
On the 27th of October, 1896, at Silver Springs, New York, Mr. Nash was united in marriage to Miss Jane E. Driscoll, daughter of Jerry and Mary Driscoll of Silver Springs.
Mr. Nash has been very active in public affairs as a supporter of the republican party, having served as chairman of the republican county committee since 1914 and as a member of the republican state central committee since 1919. He was also the incumbent in the office of village president from 1904 until 1917. During the period of the World war Mr. Nash rendered valuable service to the government as county fuel administrator, as a Four-Minute man and as a member of various Liberty Loan committees. He is now a member of the Letchworth Park commission. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order, belonging to the blue lodge at Castile, while his religious faith is that of the Methodist church, in the work of which he takes a help- ful interest. He is a member of the Silver Lake Country Club, the Silver Lake Golf Club, the Perry Club and the McNair Club of Warsaw. He finds rest and relaxation in outdoor life and is particuarly fond of golf as well as motoring. His prosperity has been the result of intense application, faith in his own powers and a readiness to assume responsibility, and his many sterling qualities have gained him a high place in the regard of those with whom he has been brought into contact.
JAMES D. McCANN.
Elmira is a monument to the aggregate efforts of many enterprising business men, one of whom is James D. McCann, a conspicuous figure in industrial circles of the city and a member of an honored pioneer family of Chemung county. He has a wide acquaintance in Elmira, in which his life has been spent. He was born Septem- ber 5, 1868, a son of James and Helen L. (Neisch) McCann, who are mentioned more specifically in the sketch of Judge George McCann. James D. McCann has two brothers, John, living in Elmira Heights; and George, a justice of the supreme court, living in Elmira.
James D. McCann supplemented his public school training by a course in the Elmira Free Academy and also attended a local business college. He obtained a position as bookkeeper for the firm of Pratt & Company, (wholesale hardware), remaining with them for several years, and on January 1, 1898, was called to public office, becoming treasurer of Chemung county. He served in that capacity until De- cember 31, 1903, discharging his duties with characteristic efficiency and thoroughness, and in 1904 became one of the organizers of the Elmira Foundry Company. He has since been secretary, treasurer and general manager of the firm and from the time of its inception the business has enjoyed a steady growth, which has been stimulated by his initiative spirit, progressive methods and executive power. The industry is one of large proportions and since 1916 has been affiliated with the General Electric Company of Schenectady, New York.
Mr. McCann was married on December 15, 1891, to Miss Mary C. Ford, who was born in Big Flats, New York, and received her education in Elmira. Two daughters have been born of this union: Helen, the wife of Richard E. Kinsman, who is connected officially with the La France Fire Engine Company of Elmira; and Florence F., who is attending the Elmira Free Academy.
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Mr. and Mrs. McCann are earnest members of the Lake Street Presbyterian church and for about fourteen years he was president of its board of trustees, of which he is still a member. He is both a York and Scottish Rite Mason and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He is a Rotarian and also belongs to the City Club and the Elmira Golf & Country Club. He is identified with the republican party and is always in the vanguard of every movement looking toward the accomplishment of real and practical good. As president of the village of Elmira Heights he rendered valuable public service and his many fine qualities of character have drawn to him a large circle of loyal friends. Mr. McCann resides in the old home, which was built by his grandfather in 1833, and with the history of progress in this section of the state he is largely familiar.
GEORGE MATHER FORBES.
George Mather Forbes, head of the department of philosophy of the University of Rochester, was born in Middlesex, Yates county, New York, on the 13th of June, 1853. His father, Rev. Merrill Forbes, was born in Fort Ann, New York, June 2, 1820, and died November 22, 1884. He spent some years in collegiate and theologic study at Hamilton Institute of Hamilton New York, now developed into Colgate University. Soon after the close of his studies he was ordained to the Baptist min- istry in the church in Sodus, Wayne county, New York. This event was the begin- ning of an arduous and markedly successful lifework, wholly devoted to the service of churches in western New York-a service which continued without intermission to the day of his death on November 22, 1884. In the early days of his ministry he was married to Maria Jane Palmer, daughter of George Palmer, a well known resident of Sodus, Wayne county, New York. Maria Jane (Palmer) Forbes was a woman with keen intellectual and literary interests and richly endowed with the rarest and noblest qualities of womanhood. This endowment enabled her to make an essential contribution to the work and success of her husband and profoundly influenced the character of her children, four sons and two daughters.
George Mather Forbes began his preparation for college at Medina high school, in Orleans county, New York, and as part of his preparation passed the first "regents examination" issued by the state board of regents in Albany. His prepara- tion was completed at Middlebury Academy of Wyoming, New York, and with his brother, John F. Forbes, he was admitted to the University of Rochester in Septem- ber, 1871. The freshman year was successfully completed, but finances were ex- hausted. His landlady kindly agreed to wait for the unpaid board bill until the amount could be earned in the harvest fields at Wyoming. Notwithstanding the earn- ings on the Wyoming county farms, it became clear that immediate return to col- lege was impossible, and that much more must be earned if college education was to be resumed. Dr. Forbes secured a position as joint principal at one of the oldest New York academies, located in Alexander, Genesee county, New York, and after a successful year of academic teaching was offered the position of principal of the Union school in Arcade, Wyoming county, New York.
Upon his arrival in Arcade he at once reported to the president of the board of education, who astonished him with the remark that he had not favored his appoint- ment and did not believe that he was "big enough" to teach the school, as his prede- cessor had "been thrown out of a window" by some of the "big boys". This chal- lenge was a stirring one to the new teacher. He took charge of the school and was not thrown out; on the contrary a public examination and exhibition at mid-year brought a frank, public acknowledgment from the president of the board that he had been entirely mistaken in his judgment. At the close of the year Dr. Forbes and his brother, J. F. Forbes, who had also been teaching for two years, resolved to make a daring venture and spend their savings for a year of study in Europe. This resolution was immediately carried out, and they landed at Hamburg, Germany, in August, 1874.
Having already acquired a reading knowledge of French and German, a few weeks' practice in speaking secured admission to the Luisen-städtischen Realschule in Berlin, where courses were taken corresponding to those taken in American col- leges, and these studies were supplemented by attendance upon selected courses of lectures in the University of Berlin. The second half of the year was spent in Paris with a similar program of study and the summer vacation was spent in travel to the south as far as Naples and included the arduous task of the ascent on foot of Mount
GEORGE M. FORBES
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Vesuvius. The culminating experiences were in Rome, for the city was as yet un- touched by the later modernization. Garibaldi was still living and his birthday was celebrated by a vast multitude, to which he responded by a brief address of acknowl- edgment from the porch of his modest dwelling. A few days later admission to an audience with the pope, Pius IX, was granted. In marked contrast to present cus- toms each person was formally introduced to the pope by the distinguished cardinal and statesman, Antonelli, and the pope gave a moment of conversation to each visitor.
Upon the return of Dr. Forbes to this country in the fall of 1875 he received a letter from the board of education in Arcade, urging him to resume his position as principal at a substantial increase of salary. The offer was accepted and at the close of another successful year of teaching he returned to the University of Rochester to complete his course. A year of credit was granted on credentials brought from abroad and he entered the junior class and graduated with the class of 1878. At the close of his college course, seven years from the time he first entered, Dr. Forbes was at the head of his class in rating for scholarship. At commencement he took the first prize for the Davis medal and was awarded the Sherman graduate fellowship in economics upon submission of the thesis after an additional year of graduate study. This fellowship then yielded three hundred dollars, to provide for the ex- pense of graduate study and preparation of the required thesis. In the autumn fol- lowing his graduation Dr. Forbes accepted an invitation to join Albert Chadwick, a graduate of the University of Rochester, in the management of the Overhiser Pre- paratory School in Brooklyn, a school of very high standing, devoted almost ex- clusively to the preparation of students for Harvard University.
During his residence in Brooklyn, Dr. Forbes was married to Prudie Hodgman Gordon, eldest daughter of Stephen Decatur Gordon of Rochester and teacher in the public schools. She was born on February 15, 1851, and died on January 21, 1903. Two children were born of the marriage: Gordon Merrill Forbes, born February 17, 1882, who died on December 24, 1897, during his second year in high school; and Florence Forbes Killam, who was born July 22, 1887, and is the widow of Dr. Douglas Killam, late professor of mathematics in the University of Alberta, Canada. Dr. Killam served with distinction throughout the World war as officer in the Canadian army. He died of accidental drowning in 1923.
After three years of administration and instruction in the Overhiser school Dr. Forbes received from President Anderson of Rochester the offer of an appoint- ment as assistant professor of Greek in Rochester and at once accepted it as opening the way to realize the ambition of his life. Thus his work as a college teacher began in September, 1881. Very early in his work in the University, Dr. Forbes made evi- dent his interest in the social and civic problems of the community by joining the Young Men's Christian Association, which then had very limited and unsuitable quar- ters on the second floor of a Main Street building. His interest in the work of the Association led to his election as its president in 1884 and he served in this office until 1891. During this period, by heroic effort, a building at the corner of South avenue and Court street was erected by the association and dedicated on November 2, 1890. Chauncey M. Depew, then at the height of his brilliant career, made a stirring pre- sentation address on behalf of the donors, and Dr. Forbes responded with an address of acceptance on behalf of the Association.
Upon the retirement of the loved and venerated Dr. Asahel Kendrick in 1886, Dr. Forbes was made full professor of Greek. He made known, however, to President Anderson that his ambition was to enter the field of philosophy and education. He found sympathetic response both from President Anderson and from his successor, President David J. Hill. President Anderson's confidence and helpfulness was shown when, on account of his declining strength he turned over to Dr. Forbes the course in ethics for seniors. Soon after Dr. Hill's appointment as president, the course in logic was assigned to Dr. Forbes and in 1894 he was formally appointed to the chair of philosophy and education.
At this time there was in the field of education a rapidly growing conviction that efficient teaching throughout the whole educative process must be grounded in sympathetic study of the psychology, principles, and philosophy of education. This view became revolutionary in its influence upon the conception of training for teachers in the public schools. It was evident that the colleges and universities were the only institutions which could undertake such a task. The demand upon them became in- creasingly urgent. In response to this demand Dr. Forbes offered courses in gen- eral psychology, educational psychology, science and philosophy of education and his- tory of education. The immediate large registration in these courses gave evidence of the urgent need. Dr. Forbes also organized Saturday morning classes for teachers
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who were in active service, both in the city and surrounding towns, and at the re- quest of the City Teachers Association he gave a course of ten lectures open to all teachers and intended to develop the foundation principles upon which a science of education must rest.
Dr. Forbes did not confine his civic interests solely to the public schools. His early economic studies aroused a keen interest in the "free silver propaganda" and the attempt to elect a president on that issue. Dr. Forbes, in order to contribute to the refutation of what he regarded as a dangerous doctrine, wrote a syllabus for a course of public lectures on "Money and the Mechanism of Exchange." This was published by the board of regents at Albany and was the basis of courses of lec- tures for two successive seasons in Rochester, Buffalo and surrounding towns.
In the years immediately preceding 1900 public sentiment in Rochester became thoroughly aroused on account of deplorable conditions in the public schools. The situation had become so serious as to attract state-wide attention and culminated in a scathing denunciation by Governor Roosevelt of existing conditions in the schools of Rochester, and the threat of drastic action by the state unless prompt measures were taken to improve conditions. To meet this situation a bill was drafted by Dr. Frank F. Dow, a member of the existing board. This bill, with some amendments, was passed by the legislature. The bill provided for a board of five commissioners, to be elected at large and to have full control of the school system, both as to educa- tion and finance. Dr. Forbes was nominated as a candidate for election for the new board and with the consent of President Rhees accepted the candidacy, and after a vigorous campaign, in which he made many addresses to the voters, he was elected a member of the new board, which took charge of the schools on January 1, 1900. The first campaign was followed at the end of each four years with a similar contest. In such a forward movement, which necessitates radical changes, there is always a conservative body of voters in opposition, and hence each election demanded a fur- ther vigorous campaign, which required a thorough knowledge of the educational issues and aims involved. On account of his professional equipment and familiarity with the educational issues Dr. Forbes was called upon to serve in each campaign, so that by the time of his retirement, the new school policy and organization was so thoroughly understood and appreciated by the community that the educational system was accepted as established and subsequent elections turned solely on the choice of candidates as to their fitness to serve as members of the board.
In 1905, with the hearty approval of his colleagues on the board of education and the consent of President Rhees, Dr. Forbes visited Europe for the purpose of mak- ing a comparative study of the organization, methods and results of primary and secondary education as administered in Europe. The chief studies were made in the primary and secondary schools of England, Scotland, France, Germany and Italy. Dr. Forbes' earlier experience as student in the secondary schools of Germany and France and his years of teaching in educational science enabled him, by means of reports and lectures, to present to the teachers of the public schools a comprehensive and comparative account of the methods and efficiency of the European schools, by which our own schools might profit.
Dr. Forbes served on the board of education for twelve years, being three times elected for a four-year term. During the last six years he was president of the board. His earlier experience, both in administration and instruction, in both pri- vate and public schools and his years of service in the university in teaching the science, history and philosophy of education, enabled him to render professional ser- vice in the reorganization and development of the public school system in Rochester, so that at the time of his retirement from the board of education he had made an outstanding contribution to the public school system of Rochester, which had come to be regarded as among the very foremost of progressive school systems in the United States.
While serving as president of the board of education, Dr. Forbes was elected president of the New York State Teachers Association. During the period of his ser- vice as president and as member of the executive committee, fundamental changes were made in the constitution of the association, which have greatly contributed not only in membership, but also in influence and increasing service of the association to all the interests of the educational systems of the state. At the request of the executive committee of the association Dr. Forbes prepared a code of ethics for the teachers of the state, which was adopted and published by the association in 1913. It has since had a nation-wide recognition. The code has also been used by request from various parts of the country as the foundation of many local codes.
While he was president of the board of education Dr. Forbes and his colleagues
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became deeply interested in the proposal to use the public schools in the interest of broader civic education, by opening the school buildings to the public in the evening as local community centers for social gatherings and for the discussion of public questions, in the interest of a better and more intelligent citizenship. The board of education authorized the use of the school buildings for the purpose named and in many districts such social and civic centers were organized and realized with marked success the purpose for which they were created. On the second anniversary of the "Social Centers", Hon. Charles E. Hughes, then governor of New York state, accepted an invitation to address the meeting, at which Dr. Forbes was presiding. Governor Hughes was so deeply impressed with the spirit and purpose of the occasion that in closing a stirring address he said, "I am more interested in what you are doing here than in anything else in the world, for you are buttressing the foundation of de- mocracy." Unfortunately the hostility of political interests succeeded in undermining this most hopeful movement.
Meantime, by 1914, the increase of enrollment in the department of philosophy and education at the university was such that it was found necessary to appoint an assistant, and by 1919 the number of students in the department was so large that it became evident that a division must be made. Dr. Forbes chose to continue as head of the department of philosophy. The increase of students, however, was so rapid that this change had little effect upon registration of students in the depart- ment of philosophy. By 1923 the enrollment of students in the department varied from thirty to one hundred in the courses offered.
In 1918 Dr. Forbes was married to Edith Willis Linn, widow of Samuel H. Linn and daughter of Dr. F. L. H. Willis and Love M. Whitcomb Willis.
JOHN C. DICKEY.
An active career of nearly a quarter of a century in the newspaper business preceded the appointment of John C. Dickey to the position of postmaster at Mount Morris, Livingston county, New York, which position Mr. Dickey is now filling. Prior to that he was United States Loan Commissioner from 1896 until 1912. He was born at Nunda, Livingston county, New York, on November 7, 1860, the son of David and Margaret (Crawford) Dickey, both natives of the north of Ireland and both now deceased.
John C. Dickey received his education in the grade and high schools, after which he obtained employment with George M. Shull, publisher of the Enterprise. In 1881 Mr. Dickey, in partnership with George S. Elicott, bought the Mount Morris Union, and in 1896 Mr. Dickey became the sole owner of the paper by the purchase of his partner's share, and conducted the publication alone until 1918, when it was absorbed by the Picket Line Post. Mr. Dickey's appointment as postmaster was made by Presi- dent Harding in 1922.
Mr. Dickey was married on the 14th of March, 1906, to Jane Baker. They have two children: Elizabeth and David. Fraternally Mr. Dickey is affiliated with the Masonic order.
FRANK WILLIAM ADRIANCE, M. D.
For forty-five years Dr. Frank William Adriance has ministered to Elmira's citizens in a professional capacity. He was born near Owasco Lake, near Auburn, in Cayuga county, New York, September 19, 1854, a son of William and Deborah A. (Angevine) Adriance, the latter a native of Dutchess county, New York. They were married in Albion, Michigan, of which city Mr. and Mrs. Angevine were early settlers. The mother of Dr. Adriance passed away in Watkins, New York. The father was born in Cayuga county and there engaged in farming, also followed that occupation in Orleans county, this state. He cast his ballot for the candidates of the republican party and in religious faith was a Presbyterian, in which church he was an elder. He was a son of Jacob Adriance, who was born in Dutchess county and when a young man purchased a tract of four hundred acres in Cayuga county. By arduous labor he cleared the land and eventually transformed it into a valuable property, on which he reared his family. His father, Rem Adriance, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war.
Frank William Adriance completed a course in the high school in Medina, New
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York, and his professional training was received in the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1877. He opened an office in Wat- kins, New York, remained in that city for nine years, and in October, 1886, became a member of the medical fraternity of Elmira. He specializes in materia medica.
On the 8th of January, 1879, Dr. Adriance was married to Miss Elizabeth Beach, a native of Seneca county, New York, and to this union was born a daughter: Linnette A., who was graduated from Elmira College and resides with her parents, whose country home is situated on Sodus Bay. They are members of the Presby- terian church and the Doctor is an adherent of the republican party. While a resi- dent of Watkins he filled the position of coroner for a term. He served for two years on the state board of medical examiners and his professional relations are with the New York State Medical Society, the American Institute of Homeopathy, and the Interstate Medical Association. He is also a member of the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.
JOHN WARREN JARDINE.
John W. Jardine, vice president of the Genesee Valley Trust Company, is one of the best known of the city's younger bank officials and one whose entire business career has been devoted to the banking business. He was born in Rochester, October 9, 1885, a son of John and M. Cornelia (Kentner) Jardine. The father, a native of Scotland, came to America in early life and located in Rochester, where he has ever since resided.
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