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 85
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John Austin Perkins began his studies in Newark, New Jersey, and completed his education in one of the high schools of Springfield, Massachusetts. He was first employed in the silk mills, working for about six years in the dye house, and after-
FREDERICK C. GOODWIN
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ward went to Winsted, Connecticut, where he gained a thorough knowledge of the optical business, to which he has since devoted his attention. He established a factory in Winsted and in 1902 moved his business to Horseheads. He manufactures glasses for the jobbing and prescription business and his plant is well equipped for work of this character. The output is shipped principally to points in New York and Pennsyl- vania and the business is operated under the name of the Winchester Optical Company.
On the 20th of January, 1897, Mr. Perkins was married to Miss Helen L. Shepard, who was born in Arlington, Vermont, and received her education in Winsted, Connecti- cut. They have become the parents of a daughter: Frances, who is now the wife of Charles E. Barber, a mechanician in the employ of a local automobile company. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins are Presbyterians in religious faith and in politics he is a republican. He is keenly interested in the educational progress of his community and has served as school trustee. He works earnestly for the upbuilding of the village along all lines and is one of the directors of the Civic Club. He has taken both the York and Scottish Rite degrees in Masonry and is a past master of his lodge.
THE BALDWIN FAMILY.
The Baldwin family was among the first to settle in Chemung county and with its history the name is inseparably associated. Its members were early mill builders and no family in the valley has contributed more largely to its development and progress. The family was founded in the county by Isaac Baldwin, who came up the river in 1784. Although this statement is not authentic, it is strengthened by the fact that his grandson, Vine Baldwin, was born either in the year 1782 or 1783 at Seshequin, on the Susquehanna, while the family were on their way to Chemung. It is also substantiated by the fact that at the time of the arrival of the Wynkoop, Buck and McDowell families in the spring of 1786, Isaac Baldwin was in possession of six hundred acres of fertile and productive land in the valley. The tract was situated within the corporate limits of Chemung and in the neighborhood of the battle ground of 1779.
Isaac Baldwin had eight sons, among whom were Isaac, Thomas, Waterman, Rufus, William and Henry. Thomas was a sergeant in the Continental army and was wounded in the battle of Newton. During the fight he stole alone to a hiding place behind a clump of small trees and bushes and fired upon the fleeing savages as they passed his place of concealment. He was finally discovered by an Indian, who aimed and fired at him as he ran. The ball hit him in the knee, breaking his kneecap and crippling him for life. Shortly afterward he was pursued by a fleet- footed warrior, and seeing that flight was impossible, he dropped suddenly to the ground and laid himself lengthwise behind a large log. The Indian approached cautiously until within a few rods of the log, when the sergeant slowly raised his hat upon a stick in order that the crown might be seen above the top of the log. The Indian, supposing that the hat covered Mr. Baldwin's head, fired and struck it. As he jumped forward in great glee to claim the scalp of the paleface the sergeant dis- charged his gun and the redskin dropped to the ground dead.
Vine Baldwin, son of Thomas Baldwin, is said to have been the first white child born west of the Alleghany mountains. One of the most interesting characters in the Baldwin family, or indeed of the whole valley from Wilkerburg to Painted Post, was Waterman, the third son of Isaac Baldwin (1). His memory comes down to us with that glamour that surrounds in a greater measure the knights and men of arms in feudal times. Many incidents related of him, depending not upon mere hearsay but preserved as cherished treasures in the records and memories of the family, stamp him as being one man in a thousand-brave, chivalrous, generous, tender-hearted, prudent, trustworthy-the friend, confident and companion of the highest in the land, the protector and defender of the humblest. He was a silent man, speaking infrequently, and then with few words. He possessed the exceedingly rare quality of never being in the way and never being out of the way, every time being where it was expected that he should be. He was identified with many daring exploits in the Revolution and was three times taken prisoner by the Indians. His numerous deeds of bravery and daring so impressed the Indians that he was held in awe by many of them. During his last capture it was decided that he must be burned and preparations were begun to that end. The terrible ceremony had pro- ceeded so far that "Wat", as he was familiarly called, had shaken hands as a last farewell to many of the prominent braves and was about to grasp the hand of
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rather the beginning of new era of growth and development. It is fitting that the college should start out as a regular college in full standing under the guidance of the man who did so much to make its being possible. He was born in Short Tract, New York, August 1, 1867, the son of James and Pollyanne (Davis) Luckey. His father came to Allegany county in 1832, at the age of sixteen in company with his father, Benjamin Luckey, grandfather of James S. Luckey of this review, a native of northern Ireland. James was born in this state near Poughkeepsie, but the family resided in Tompkins county for a time before coming to this vicinity.
James S. Luckey was educated in the Houghton Seminary, which he now heads, graduating with the class of 1889. From there he went to Oberlin College, Ohio, where he completed the work for his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1904 and the following year took his Master of Arts degree. In 1908 he obtained another Master's degree from Harvard. Prior to his college course Mr. Luckey studied in the Albany Normal College of his own state, where he was granted the degree of Pd. M. in 1898. Prac- tically all of his mature life has been spent in educational work, in which his career has been one of steady and substantial progress. From 1898 to 1902 he was principal of the Union school in Millerton, New York, and following the completion of his work as a student in Oberlin he joined the faculty of his Alma Mater as an instructor, remaining until the close of the school year of 1907. In 1908 he returned to Houghton as president of the seminary, where he has labored so effectively ever since. With a farsighted vision of the opportunities in the educational field of the twentieth century he built up the school, little by little, until on the 7th of April, 1923, it was granted a charter as Houghton College. With these enlarged opportunities for work President Houghton hopes to make his college an instrument for greater service in the field of . Christian education. That he will be blessed with success in his present plans for developing the school is the earnest wish of all his friends and the friends of the institution he heads.
President Luckey is a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church, which founded and supported the old seminary. In his political views he has always maintained an independent position as regards the principles and candidates of the two great parties, but his support has ever been unwaveringly given to the cause of pro- hibition. His Phi Beta Kappa key betokens a scholastic career of more than usual brilliance and a personality which enables him to utilize his intellectual accomplish- ments for some good social end.
James S. Luckey and Miss Edith Sarah Bedell of Mexico, New York, were united in marriage on June 28, 1894. Mrs. Luckey is the daughter of Siras and Sarah bedell. Mr. and Mrs. Luckey are the parents of three children, two sons and a daugh- ter: The oldest child, James Harold Luckey, born May 17, 1899, resides in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he operates a radio store. He is married, his wife being the former Miss Leila Daily of Allentown; Miss Ruth Evangeline Luckey was born March 11, 1901, and graduated from Oberlin College with the A. B. degree in the class of 1922. She is now librarian and instructor in history at East Aurora high school, East Aurora, New York; Robert Raphael, born November 19, 1917, is just beginning his educational career.
CHARLES PORTER DOWNS.
Charles Porter Downs, actively identified with the legal profession in Rochester for more than two decades, has been a member of the prominent law firm of Reed, Shutt, Downs & Shutt since 1913. He represents an old and well known family of Monroe county, where his birth occurred on the 16th of May, 1876, his parents being Sylvester L. and Augusta A. (Sawyer) Downs, who were also natives of Rochester. In this city the father was closely connected with industrial interests for many years as a carriage manufacturer, conducting an enterprise of that character to the time of his demise, which occurred in October, 1917. To him and his wife, who still survives, were born two children: Mrs. Charles R. Zorsch, a resident of Rochester; and C. Porter of this review.
C. Porter Downs pursued a public and high school education in Rochester and then matriculated in the University of Buffalo at Buffalo, New York, where he re- ceived his professional training and was given the degree of LL. B. in 1903. He at once entered upon general practice in Rochester, where he has remained an active and successful representative of the legal fraternity and since 1913 has been a mem- ber of the firm of Reed, Shutt, Downs & Shutt. The zeal with which he has devoted his energies to his profession, the careful regard evinced for the interests of his
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clients, and an assiduous and unrelaxing attention to all the details of his cases, have brought him a large business and made him very successful in its conduct. He holds membership in the Rochester Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association and the American Bar Association and in addition to his professional interests is a director in several business corporations.
On the 5th of May, 1903, in Rochester, Mr. Downs was united in marriage to Miss Grace D. Gifford, a daughter of Jacob W. Gifford and a representative of a prominent family of Penfield, Monroe county, New York. Politically Mr. Downs is a stanch republican. He has been county committeeman for several terms and for six years served as justice of the peace in Brighton, making a most creditable record in both connections. He belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and fraternally is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Brighton Presbyterian church. He likewise has membership connection with the Rochester Historical Society, with the Rochester Club and with the Rochester Auto Club and is a well known and highly esteemed citizen of the community in which his life has been spent. His residence is at No. 1859 East avenue, Rochester, New York.
WOLCOTT J. HUMPHREY.
From a financial standpoint, and irrespective of other considerations, the leading . citizen of Warsaw, Wyoming county, is easily Wolcott Julius Humphrey, president of the Wyoming County National Bank, the largest financial institution in the county. Aside from this, however, the Humphreys are numbered among the oldest and best known families in the community, the grandfather of the banker being the first of the name to settle in Wyoming county. His name was Theophilus Humphrey, and before moving to the state of New York he was a resident of Canton, Connecticut. He located in Wyoming county in March, 1818, and since that time the Humphreys have been a family of importance in the county's affairs. Wolcott J. Humphrey was born October 29, 1877, in Warsaw, his parents being Wolcott J. and Hannah A. (Mulhol- land) Humphrey of Warsaw. The father became president of the Wyoming County National Bank in 1871 and continued at the head of the institution until his death in 1890. He also served for two terms in the state senate.
Wolcott J. Humphrey obtained his early education in the grade and high schools of Warsaw, afterward spent three years in the Hill School at Pottstown, Pennsyl_ vania, and in 1896 entered Williams College at Williamstown, Massachusetts, from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts and graduated in the class of 1900. In the same year he entered the Wyoming County National Bank as a clerk, in 1902 was elected president of the institution, and has been its chief executive officer ever since. During this period the deposits of the bank have increased from a little more than a quarter million dollars in 1902 to more than three million, two hundred thou- sand dollars in 1925, while the total resources now approach the four-million-dollar mark. Mr. Humphrey is also identified with other important financial interests which are affiliated with the Wyoming County National Bank. He is vice president of the Wyoming Banking Company of Wyoming, New York; vice president of the Pavilion Banking Company of Pavilion, New York; vice president of the North Java Company Bankers of North Java, New York; vice president of the First National Bank of Arcade, Arcade, New York; director of the Buffalo branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; director of the Rochester Telephone Corporation; director of the Fassett Lumber Company of Fassett, Quebec, Canada; director of the Wyoming Valley Fire Insurance Company of Warsaw; a trustee of the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society; and chairman of the Letchworth Park committee of that society, administering one thousand acres of state park in the counties of Wyoming and Livingston, including three falls of the Genesee river; and is also a member of the advisory council of the New York State Association. Mr. Humphrey is director, secretary and treasurer of the Warsaw Office Building Company, a mem- ber of the board of trustees of Hill School of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, a member of the Zeta Psi fraternity and a member of the Silver Lake Country Club and the Wil- liams Club of New York.
On June 24, 1920, Mr. Humphrey was married to Miss Dorothy Irene Gage of Warsaw, daughter of Hon. Bert P. and Carrie (Otis) Gage of Warsaw. Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey have three children: Dorothy Louise, Margaret and Wolcott Julius, Jr., the latter of whom was born January 4, 1924. In his political opinions Mr.
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Humphrey is a republican and takes a helpful interest in political affairs. He also takes an active interest in religious matters and is a member and a trustee of the First Congregational church of Warsaw. During the World war, he served as chair- man of the Wyoming County Home Defense committee, as chairman of the First, Third and Fourth Liberty Loans and of the Victory Loan, and in 1918 was chairman of the Wyoming County War Savings campaign.
MARTIN ADSIT.
Martin Adsit, deceased, was indeed the leading figure of Hornell's business life during the amazing nineteenth century. Over the long span of seventy-six years this public-spirited man of affairs was an essential part of Hornell. During at least half a century he stood foremost among business men in the volume of transac- tions, and what is more important, in public esteem. Merchant and banker, civic leader and man of wealth, he never forgot the spiritual and community good. Nature gave him good health and he conserved it and lived to see many of the dreams of his youth become realizations. For instance, he saw the potential opportunities presented by banking and entered this field when it was considered foolish to do so in the small community Hornellsville then was.
Martin Adsit was born in Spencertown, Columbia county, New York, December 26, 1812, and came to Hornellsville (now Hornell) on December 2, 1826, entering the store belonging to his uncle, Colonel Ira Davenport. Mr. Adsit bought out his uncle's interests in 1833 and continued at the same stand until 1845, when he built and moved into a store at Main and Canisteo streets. In 1886 new stores were built along the north side of Main street and into one of these Mr. Adsit moved his busi- ness. For a time he had a partner, Martin A. Tuttle, and then took his son, John O. Adsit, into the business. This association continued until 1881, when the stock was sold.
During these years Martin Adsit's banking business, an outgrowth of his mer- cantile concern, had greatly developed. He began an exchange office as early as 1849 and with the coming of the Erie Railroad in 1853 it started to produce dividends. It was organized in 1863 as the First National Bank of Hornell, with Colonel Daven- port as president and Martin Adsit as cashier. In 1865 the cashier became president, which office he held until his death in 1900.
Martin Adsit was married in 1841 to Esther J. Charles, daughter of Dr. Richard Charles of Angelica. Mrs. Adsit established herself in the community and for nearly sixty years she was as well known and beloved in Hornell as Martin Adsit. She passed beyond in 1898. Of their five children, one survives, John O. Adsit of New York. Another son was the late Charles Adsit, president of the First National Bank at Hornell, who died in 1924.
CHARLES NORTHRUP.
Charles Northrup, a well known and representative journalist of Cattaraugus county, has since November, 1918, been proprietor and editor of The Post, which is published at Ellicottville and is conceded to be one of the most progressive papers in western New York. He was born at Ellicottville, Cattaraugus county, this state, on the 6th of April, 1880, the son of Edwin D. and Lucy S. (Skinner) Northrup. The father, who spent the greater part of his life in Ellicottville, here engaged in school teaching prior to taking up the profession of law and later gained a well merited reputation as an able and successful attorney.
In the acquirement of an education Charles Northrup attended the grade and high schools of his native town. He had attained the age of nineteen when in 1899 he made his way to Little Valley, New York, where he was an apprentice printer for three years. On the expiration of that period, in 1902, he located in Salamanca and during the two succeeding years was employed as a printer on the Salamanca Daily. Subsequently he purchased a printing plant in Ellicottville and here con- ducted a job printing office until November, 1918, when he acquired the plant and assumed the editorship of The Post, which he has published very successfully to the present time. The Post is a weekly paper with more than thirteen hundred subscribers, is a bright, entertaining journal devoted to the dissemination of local
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and general news and is accorded an extensive advertising patronage. Mr. Northrup is assisted in his editorial work by his associate, Raymond V. Carroll. He has in- stalled many new machines since taking over the plant and has at present a linotype, automatic job press as well as two extra job presses.
On the 6th of June, 1906, at Randolph, New York, Mr. Northrup was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Grace Carroll, daughter of P. J. Carroll of Little Valley, New York. He spends considerable of his leisure time in working about the grounds of his beautiful colonial home and is also very fond of motoring and of travel.
Mr. Northrup gives his political allegiance to the republican party and mani- fests an active interest in community affairs. He belongs to the Calumet Club and to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and also has membership in the Cattar- augus and Allegany Counties Printers Association, the New York Press Association and the National Editorial Association. He is alert, thoroughly alive to the condi- tions, the needs and the opportunities of the hour, thinking ever for the betterment of the individual and the community and at the same time recognizing that practical methods must be followed in the attainment of the ideal.
GEORGE J. KAELBER.
The spirit of progress which is a distinctive characteristic of Rochester's native sons, finds expression in the career of George J. Kaelber, whose real estate activities have brought him to the fore in business circles of the city, and his personality is one that inspires confidence and respect. He was born March 6, 1884, and his parents were Charles and Magdalena (Mayer) Kaelber, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Rochester. The father engaged in manufacturing in this city, and his death occurred in 1896, but the mother still makes her home in Rochester. Three children were born to them: William G .; Edwin C. and George J., all residents of the city.
Mr. Kaelber made thorough preparation for his entry into the commercial world, attending the public schools, the Mechanics Institute, and also completing a course in the Rochester Business Institute. He entered the employ of the Yawman & Erbe Manufacturing Company in a clerical capacity and remained with that concern for fourteen years, on the expiration of which period he became identified with the business of Brown Brothers Company, well known nurserymen of Rochester. He now acts as secretary and treasurer of the Browncroft Realty Corporation, and ex- perience and ability well qualify him for the important duties which devolve upon him in this connection. He is well informed concerning property values in this locality and has contributed materially to the success of the Company by earnest, systematic and intelligently directed effort.
On September 20, 1911, Mr. Kaelber married Miss Margaret Brown, a daughter of Charles J. Brown, one of Rochester's foremost business men. George J. Kaebler, Jr., the only child of this union, was born in Rochester, October 11, 1922.
Mr. Kaelber belongs to the Rochester Yacht Club, and the local Ad and Automo- bile Clubs. He is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce; the Rochester Real Estate Board, the Rochester Engineering Society; the New York State Archaeological Association and the Young Men's Christian Association. Along fraternal lines he is connected with the Masonic order, having membership in Frank R. Lawrence Lodge, F. & A. M. He is affiliated with the Salem Evangelical church and contributes liber- ally toward its support and to every worthy civic project. Mr. Kaelber is a live factor in his community and possesses many exemplary traits of character, as his fellow citizens attest.
WILLIAM T. SPINNING.
When William T. Spinning responded to the final summons on the 26th of August, 1899, there passed from the scene of life's activities one of the pioneer business men of Dansville, and his memory deserves to be honored and cherished, for his work still counts as an important factor in the development of the community to whose up- building he gave unreservedly of his powers. He was born on a farm near Auburn, New York, September 20, 1820, and in 1847, when a young man of twenty-seven,
GEORGE J. KAELBER
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he located in West Sparta. He afterward opened a general store in Kysorville and a few years later removed to Dansville, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was one of the early dry goods merchants of the village and subsequently embarked in the grocery business. He met with financial reverses and for a time was em- ployed in the establishment of Fielder & Olney. Being a man of strong purpose and courageous spirit, he began the task of rebuilding his business in 1876, forming a partnership with his son, William A. Spinning, and Nicholas Uhl. The business was conducted under the firm style of Spinning, Uhl & Company and was placed upon a substantial footing, owing to the wise guidance of the man at its head. Mr. Spinning acquired an enviable reputation for business sagacity and integrity and when the Merchants & Farmers National Bank was founded in 1893 he was chosen as its president. He proved to be an executive of marked ability, building up a strong moneyed institution by progressive methods, tempered by a safe conservatism, and was retained in that office until his demise. He was an elder in the Presbyterian church and along fraternal lines was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In Sparta, in 1848, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Walker and theirs was a congenial and happy alliance of mutual helpfulness and understanding. Mr. Spinning was a fine type of the alert, energetic business man to whom obstacles serve as an impetus to renewed effort. Decisive in his methods, keenly alive to the possibilities as well as the disadvantages of any business proposition, he found much pleasure in the solution of a difficult problem, and his integrity was above question. He never wrought an injury to another and was steadfast, loyal and true in his friendships, being thoroughly appreciative of the good in others.
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