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 IV > Part 20
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Judge Castleman passed way after a brief illness, when at the height of his use- fulness; and his demise was the occasion of deep and widespread regret, for he was a man of high ideals and lofty purposes, who left the world better than he found it. The term friendship was to him no mere idle word, but a recognition of the good in others and a genuine delight in their companionship because of his unfeigned interest in them. On Christmas day, only a few days before his death, Judge Castleman received a set of engraved resolutions from the Rochester Teachers Association congratulating him on his election and telling him of their admiration and affection. This appreciation of his work by such a great body of teachers touched the heart of the judge and gave him inexpressible joy on Christmas day. The following is a copy of the resolutions:
"The teachers, principals, supervisors and superintendents of the school system of the city of Rochester, at a general meeting of the Association, held at Convention Hall, Thursday afternoon, November 20th, passed a resolution directing the Execu- tive committee to write to you and to express some of the feelings which have long been in our hearts. Your recent election to the office of special county judge by one of the largest pluralities ever known in this county has awakened us again to a deep sense of all you have meant to us and also to the knowledge that we have lost you as an official counselor in all of the ever-increasing and perplexing problems of our large and rapidly growing school system.
"You have served the schools of our city so long, first as a member of the Board of Education and then as president of the Board, that we had come to think of you as one of our own force, and now although you have left us to serve the people of the county in a very important office, nevertheless we shall continue to think of you as one of us, a loyal, big-hearted friend, a wise, farseeing and ever available counselor, a firm believer in the necessity of providing our boys and girls with the best teachers to be obtained, and with buildings having the finest possible equipment, so that they may receive the benefits of the richest and fullest education, founded upon the highest ideals.
"You have been all this to us and more. We shall ever honor and love you for what you have done. You have stood for the best and we know in your new office you will ever be found serving all the people with a firm but kindly justice, every act being tempered with that great big heart of yours, which takes in all mankind."
A fitting tribute was paid Judge Castleman by the members of the Rochester Bar Association, and at the funeral President Rhees of the University of Rochester deliv- ered the following eulogy: "Our memory is rich in the knowledge of the public service of one who devoted himself first and foremost to the noble work of education. During long years of service he showed a keen understanding of the needs in which the community could and should benefit generations to come. He gave his time and thought and enthusiasm to the realization of the ideals that he cherished in his heart for the schools of our city. He seemed to be entirely absorbed in the work of the community. I often wondered what time he could find to give attention to the private practice of his own profession. He has been taken from us at the threshold of the greater public service of his life and the loss to our community is one which will not be easily repaired. Our hearts are full of grateful recognition of his sterling integrity
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of character, his unselfish rectitude and his clear recognition of spiritual ideals as the supreme realities in human life. His loss is a challenge to us to take from his fallen hands the standard of integrity and public service which we do not doubt, if he had been spared, he would have carried forward for many years, and in his stead to carry it on with equal integrity and courageous persistence, with faith in the triumph of truth and with love for our fellows and for our God."
On January 5, 1920, the Rochester Board of Education adopted the following resolutions : "On the evening of New Year's Day occurred the death of Special County Judge J. Warrant Castleman, who for eleven years was a member of this Board. During the last four of those eleven years he served as president of the Board. This long term of service ended on January 1, 1919, when he began his work as special county judge.
"During practically his entire life, since early manhood, Mr. Castleman had taken a deep and wholesome interest in public affairs. In all truth it can be said by those who knew him best, that it was his public service rather than his private vocation that most interested him and that challenged the greatest use of his active and vigorous mind. He was ever ready to give unstintedly of his time and strength to any movement that advanced the public welfare. This characteristic, of such deep significance to the form of government under which we live, has always merited our greatest admiration and respect.
"Of. all the lines of public service in which he engaged, he clearly manifested by word and by deed that he regarded the cause of public education as the most valuable. To those who knew the man this fact was easily explained. He believed in American democracy; and in the public schools he saw that one indispensable means of providing the mental, moral and physical manhood and womanhood upon which the welfare of such a government must inevitably rest. He loved children and he had that ever present desire to enable them through education to meet a little more helpfully and cheerfully the problems of life. Upon this belief in American democracy and in this love of children was built a life of rare usefulness and friendship. Out of such a spirit he made, to the public schools in this city, those real contributions which have been so justly recognized. Under his responsibilities as president of the Board of Education and as special county judge in charge of the Children's court, his unusual powers of mind and of heart grew to the point where his leadership won public recog- nition in many ways.
"In view of those high qualities of citizenship and of personal worth which ex- pressed themselves in a life of unusual public service, therefore, be it
"Resolved, That the superintendent of schools be instructed to prepare a bio- graphical sketch of the life and public service of J. Warrant Castleman, for distribu- tion and use among the public schools of the city, and, be it further
"Resolved, That the members of this Board hereby record their deep sense of loss in the death of Mr. Castleman, and express their most heartfelt sympathy to those members of his immediate family from whom he has been so suddenly taken."
HENRY CHASE PECK.
Among the well known, successful and progressive Rochesterians who are espe- cially deserving of mention in this volume is Henry Chase Peck, president of Knowles & Peck Company, Incorporated, roofing and sheet metal contractors, which was established in 1878. A worthy native son of Rochester, he was born on the 15th of April, 1872, his parents being Henry J. and Amelia S. (Hart) Peck, both of whom were natives of Monroe county, New York. The father, at present residing at No. 1555 East avenue, in Rochester, was born on Elmwood avenue in 1839, and is the son of Hiram Peck, one of the early pioneers of the town who came here in 1812 and settled on Elmwood avenue, in the place which afterward came into possession of his son, Henry J. Peck. When Hiram Peck came to the Genesee country he was obliged to make the trip on horseback from Stockbridge, Massachusetts, his native home. He became a prominent agriculturist and in politics was a supporter of the whigs. His wife was Martha Donnelly, who was born in Rome, New York, and by her he had five children, only one of whom survives, Henry J. Peck. This family occupied a prominent position in business, society and church.
Henry J. Peck received his preliminary education in private schools, supple- menting it by a course at Clover Street Seminary. He early became associated with his father and assisted him in making all the improvements on the farm. As a reward
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for his labors he is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres on Elmwood avenue and Winton road, in Brighton, and owns one hundred acres of splendid orchard. In 1854 he entered the nursery business. His office is with the Chase Brothers Company, one of the largest horticultural establishments in the world, of which he is vice president. Mr. Peck has always been a prominent and honored citizen here and when Brighton was but a village he served as its president. At the time the village was annexed by the city he was elected alderman of the twenty-first ward for several terms. His political affiliations have been with the republican party and he has always taken an active part in promoting its interests. He is a member of the Masonic lodge, of the Rochester Whist Club and of the Genesee Whist Club. He is a member of the Brighton Presbyterian church, having served as trustee for ten years, and is also president of the Brighton Cemetery Association.
In 1868 Henry J. Peck was united in marriage, in Brighton, to Amelia S. Hart, who was born in Brighton and was a daughter of Samuel Hart, who came to Monroe county, New York, with his father in 1820. Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Peck became the parents of four children: George H., who is deceased; Henry Chase, of this review; Robert P., a fruit grower residing at No. 1555 East avenue, in Rochester; and S. Ernest, who has passed away.
Henry Chase Peck obtained his education as a public school pupil in Rochester and later as a student in the Rochester Free Academy. After putting aside his text- books he turned his attention to fruit growing and horticulture. He was subsequently connected with the department of agriculture, with headquarters in Albany, in which capacity he continued for seven years, becoming widely recognized as an expert in matters pertaining to the science of horticulture. It was in the year 1906 that Mr. Peck resigned this position and embarked in the roofing and sheet metal business as a member of the Knowles & Peck Company, Incorporated, of which he is now the president.
On the 18th of April, 1900, Mr. Peck was married to Miss Mildred Knowles, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Knowles and a representative of a prominent Rochester family. Her father is a member of the Knowles & Peck Company, Incor- porated. Mr. and Mrs. Peck are the parents of two children, both born in Rochester, namely: Jane, whose natal year was 1911, and who is attending school; and Virginia, who was born in 1915. Mr. Peck gives his political support to the republican party and has membership in the Rochester Chamber of Commerce, the Rochester Club and the Automobile Club of Rochester. Strong in his honor and his good name, strong in his ability to plan and to perform, he is a native son of Rochester whose record reflects credit upon the city.
FRED H. RAPP.
Fred H. Rapp, who has been successfully engaged in business as a building con- tractor of Rochester for more than a third of a century, is also capably discharging the duties devolving upon him in the capacity of city assessor. His birth occurred in Rochester, Monroe county, New York, on the 28th of March, 1859, his parents being Frederick and Augusta (Beutler) Rapp, who were natives of Baden and Prussia, re- spectively. They crossed the Atlantic to the United States when about twenty years of age and took up their abode among the pioneer settlers of Rochester. 'In the year 1865 the family home was established at Rush, Monroe county. The father, who had learned the trade of blacksmithing in his native land, followed that occupation in Rush and in Rochester and gained a creditable degree of prosperity. He passed away in 1902, while his wife departed this life in 1905, and thus Monroe county sustained the loss of two of its esteemed and representative residents.
Fred H. Rapp, who was a lad of six years when he was taken by his parents to Rush, obtained a district school education in that town and after putting aside his textbooks turned his attention to the work of the fields. In the spring of 1878 he removed to Ellsworth, Kansas, and was for two years identified with the interests of that rapidly growing community. After returning to Rochester in 1881 he fol- lowed the carpenter's trade in the employ of others for a number of years, while since 1890 he has been doing contract and construction work on his own account. He began business for himself as a member of the firm of Rapp & Hill, which connection was continued for six years, subsequent to which time Mr. Rapn was alone in business until 1904. when he admitted J. H. Schoenheit to a partnershin under the firm name of F. H. Rapp & Company. He again conducted his interests independently until
FRED H. RAPP
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January, 1924, when his son-in-law, F. G. Kinney, was admitted as a partner in the F. H. Rapp Company. Mr. Rapp has long enjoyed an enviable reputation as one of the prominent general contractors of Rochester, where many of the best buildings stand as monuments to his ability.
On the 18th of October, 1882, in Rochester, New York, Mr. Rapp was united in marriage to Miss Nina Bernice Hurlbut, daughter of Samuel D. and Catherine (Eckert) Hurlbut. To Mr. and Mrs. Rapp were born three children: Clara Mar- guerite, whose birth occurred in Rochester in 1889 and who is now the wife of Frank J. Kinney of Rochester and the mother of one son, Richard Wayne Kinney; Elizabeth Marion, who was born in Rochester in 1904 and is attending school; and Florence Juliette, who died in infancy.
Mr. Rapp is a republican in politics and since 1913 has served as a member of the board of supervisors, of which he was chairman in 1918, 1919 and 1920. He is also making a splendid record as city assessor, to which position he was appointed on the 15th of May, 1921, and elected in the following November. During the period of the World war he did valuable service as a lieutenant in the War Chest drives. He be- longs to the Methodist Episcopal church and to the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion, while fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to Yonnondio Lodge No. 163, F. & A. M .; Hamilton Chapter, R. A. M .; Doric Council, R. & S. M .; Monroe Commandery, No. 12, K. T., of which he is past commander; Rochester Consistory, A. & A. S. R .; and Damascus Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He is likewise a member of Rochester Tent No. 80 of the Knights of the Maccabees and of the Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks. Mr. Rapp is also connected with the Rochester Chamber of Commerce, the Builders' Exchange and the Monroe County Pioneers Association and is a popular member of the Rochester Ad Club, the Washington Club and the Auto- mobile Club of Rochester. He is a self-made man who has fought and won in the great battle of life, focusing his energies in directions where fruition is certain. Mr. Rapp erected his home at No. 456 Plymouth avenue, and has resided there for nearly twenty-five years.
ISAAC GRIDLEY SCRANTOM.
Isaac Gridley Scrantom was born in Rochester, on the 14th of March, 1850, the son of Elbert Scrantom, a pioneer of Rochester in 1812. Mr. I. G. Scrantom is a well known business man of this city, has been associated for many years with The Hayden Company, and until recently was vice president of this corporation. On account of his capability and ability as an organizer, he was selected for the important task of establishing The Hayden Company in New York city in 1887. He resided in New York city and afterward Mt. Vernon, New York, for some eighteen years, and successfully developed the enterprise. He returned to Rochester in 1904, and assumed the general management of the manufacturing and sales.
On June 3, 1874, Mr. Scrantom was married to Kate Gardner Quinby, a daughter of General Isaac F. Quinby, a graduate of West Point and a brevet general of the Civil war, and later a professor of mathematics at the University of Rochester. Mr. and Mrs. Scrantom had three children: The eldest is Isaac Elbert; a second child, Carolyn, died in her infancy; and the third child, DeHart Gridley, graduated from the University of Rochester and is now connected with the Western Electric Company.
The family has always been associated with Christ church in Rochester, Mr. Scrantom having until recently been one of the vestry of the church. His residence is at No. 27 Strathallen park.
ISAAC ELBERT SCRANTOM.
Isaac Elbert Scrantom, eldest son of Isaac Gridley Scrantom, was born in Roch- ester, October 4, 1875. At the age of ten he went with his family to New York, early associating himself with The Hayden Company, with which he has been connected ever since. His knowledge of manufacturing brought him back to his native city of Rochester in January, 1910. In 1920, upon the reorganization of the company, he was elected president of The Hayden Company, which office he now holds.
On April 9, 1901, Mr. Scrantom was married to Mattie May Archer, daughter of William Archer. a prominent bui'der of New York city, who in later life served on many important commissions in Westchester county, including that of treasurer of
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the county, from which office he retired. Mr. and Mrs. Scrantom have two children : The eldest is William Gridley, who has lately associated himself with The Hayden Company, as the third generation to carry on this business; and a younger son, Elbert Lippiatt. Mr. Scrantom is a member of the Genesee Valley Club and the Rochester Country Club. He and his family reside at No. 32 Portsmouth terrace.
FREDERICK ROBERT DRIESBACH, M. D.
Dr. Frederick Robert Driesbach, a member of one of the old and prominent fami- lies of Dansville, has won a well-merited reputation as an able and conscientious physician and surgeon, and by continuous study is constantly enlarging his field of usefulness. He was born in South Dansville, May 31, 1865, a son of Henry and Eunice (Faulkner) Driesbach, the former a man of sterling reputation and highly esteemed in his section of Steuben county, New York. The mother was a near relative of Daniel Faulkner, in whose honor Dansville was named, and also of Captain William Perine, one of the first settlers of the village.
Frederick Robert Driesbach attended the public schools and the Dansville Semi- nary, afterward becoming a student at the Geneseo Normal School, from which he was graduated in 1886. This was followed by a course in the medical department of Columbia University, which in 1889 awarded him the M. D. degree. For four years he was associated in practice with Dr. James Crisfield but since 1893 has remained alone, maintaining an office at No. 100 Main street, in Dansville. He is a general practitioner and his professional services are in constant demand, for he is thoroughly familiar with the scientific basis upon which his work rests and correctly applies his knowledge to the needs of his patients. For some time he acted as manager of the Dansville Medical and Surgical Institute and has served as president of the local board of pension examiners, under appointment of President Mckinley, while he has also been coroner of Livingston county for thirty-four years, making a highly credit- able record in every office that he has held.
In 1890 Dr. Driesbach was married to Miss Laura Bastian, who died in 1918. In 1920 he was married to Miss Irene Leahy of Cohocton, New York. Although his professional duties occupy the foremost place in his life, Dr. Driesbach has always manifested a deep interest in civic affairs and served as a trustee of the village. He is a republican in politics and his religious belief is in accord with the doctrines of the Presbyterian church. He is a Scottish Rite Mason and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, while his professional connections are with the Livingston County and New York State Medical Societies and the American Medical Association. His professional activities have brought him a wide acquaintance and his life work is one of broad usefulness.
MAX W. MASON.
The remarkable success of F. E. Mason & Sons, embossed seal and label manu- facturers of Batavia, is due in no small part to Max W. Mason, general manager of the concern and one of the "sons" of the firm name. He was born in Fulton, Oswego county, New York, in 1889, his parents being Frank E. and Elizabeth (Wilson) Mason. It was about the year 1890 that the father removed with his family from Fulton to Batavia, New York, where he has resided throughout the intervening period of thirty-five years and where he has become widely and favorably known. As the founder of the business of F. E. Mason & Sons in 1908 he has become a prominent figure in manufacturing circles of the city, and he is still active in the management of this important and prosperous concern.
Max W. Mason received his education in the grade and high schools of Batavia and after putting aside his textbooks became associated with his father in the manu- facture of embossed seals and labels. He has thoroughly familiarized himself with the business in every particular and in his present position of general manager his labors constitute an element of value in the successful conduct of the enterprise. The firm of F. E. Mason & Sons is one of the largest of its kind in the world, an annual business of over two hundred and fifty thousand dollars and fifty regular employes testifying to the extent of its operations. Branches are maintained in New York city and Chicago, and representative managers are stationed in Sydney, Australia, in Canada, North America and Central America, and in the cities of San Francisco, Los
DR. FREDERICK R. DRIESBACH
13-Vol. IV
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Angeles, Seattle, New Orleans, Boston and Pittsburgh. Ninety per cent of all busi- ness is done direct by mail, and the firm makes all of the gold paper used in the manufacture of its product.
In Chicago, Illinois, in 1912, Mr. Mason wedded Alice Reese, and they have become the parents of two children: Constance and Max, Jr. In politics Mr. Mason maintains an independent attitude, supporting men and measures rather than party. He has membership in the Batavia Chamber of Commerce and in the Stafford Country Club. His favorite diversions are trapshooting, golf and fishing, and he is well liked as a young man of genial disposition and genuine personal worth.
THE LIKLY FAMILY.
The life record of the first Henry Likly was one of continuous activity, the evi- dence of which is still found in one of the leading manufacturing and commercial enterprises of Rochester. The example which he left behind is one well worthy of emulation, for in all that he did Henry Likly was actuated by worthy motives and high principles. Men who knew him trusted him, and whether as employe, employer or in his attitude of merchant to the trade, he was respected by all with whom he had business association.
A native of Canada, Henry Likly was born in Perth, on the 18th of January, 1836, and shortly after his father's death he accompanied his mother to Rochester in the spring of 1848. His education was here continued in the public schools, and when he had put aside his textbooks he entered business life as an employe of A. R. Pritchard, a manufacturer of trunks and traveling bags, who had established himself in that business in Rochester in 1844. Mr. Likly completed a full apprenticeship, becoming an expert workman in his line, and his mastery of the trade, combined with the many good qualities which he had displayed, led to his admission to a partnership in the firm, which had hitherto been composed of A. R. and T. H. Pritchard. His admission to the business led to the adoption of the firm name of A. R. & T. H. Pritchard & Company, on the 1st of January, 1868. Three years later it was again changed, becoming A. R. Pritchard & Likly, and when Mr. Likly and his brother-in-law, W. D. Callister, became sole proprietors, the business was carried on under the firm style of Henry Likly & Company. They developed what has become one of the largest concerns of the kind in the country, consuming annually more than a million and a half feet of lumber in the manufacture of over thirty thousand trunks and thousands of traveling bags. On its pay roll are over two hundred men. The firm manufactures all kinds and grades of trunks and traveling bags and the product is sent to every part of the Union, for the house sustains an unassailable reputation for the quality of its goods and for commercial integrity. Mr. Likly continued in business up to the time of his death, which occurred on the 17th of December, 1897, when he was almost sixty-two years of age.
Mr. Likly cast his ballot in support of the men and measures of the republican party and had a citizen's deep interest in the political issues and questions of the day, but was without political aspiration. In fact, his fellow townsmen frequently urged him to become a candidate for office, but he always declined, feeling that he could best serve his city in a private capacity. His influence was always on the side of improvement and upbuilding, and he gave substantial aid to many measures for the general good. He belonged to the Masonic and Odd Fellow fraternities, being a charter member of Corinthian Lodge No. 805, A. F. and A. M. In the Odd Fellows organization he became a past grand. His life exemplified many strong and com- mendable qualities. He never allowed business so to occupy his time that it dwarfed the other sides of his nature or crushed out his finer sensibilities. He was cognizant of his duties as well as his privileges of citizenship, placed a true value upon the worth of character, and at all times, whether in business, public or social relations, was the same honorable and honored gentleman.
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