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 28
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91
Carl Grant Clarke's boyhood and youth were spent in Livonia and Perry, where he obtained his education in the public and high schools. He began his long career as a printer and newspaper man by entering the office of the Wyoming County Herald as printer's "devil" at the enormous wage of a dollar and a half a week. He remained with this paper until 1882, when he went to Buffalo as a compositor on the Buffalo Courier, where he learned the ways of large city newspapers. At the time of the strike of 1883, Mr. Clarke went to Rochester from Buffalo and became a compositor on the Democrat-Chronicle of that city. The year 1886 found him back in Perry to assist John F. Gates in establishing a newspaper known as the Perry Weekly News.
284
THE GENESEE COUNTRY
Three years later he resigned from this paper to go to Akron, New York, with his father-in-law, Edwin M. Read, who had purchased the Akron Breeze, under the firm name of Read & Clarke. On January 24, 1894, he returned to his former home and issued the first number of the Perry Record, with which Mr. Clarke has been so intimately identified ever since. The thirty-three years that this paper has been published have been successful ones for its editor, who has had the pleasure of seeing its influence and circulation grow year by year until it has become a force to be reckoned with in this community. In 1920 a change in the management of the paper occurred when Mr. Clarke admitted into partnership with him his eldest son, Carl Read Clarke.
In Perry, on the 24th of January, 1888, Mr. Clarke was married to Miss Carrie D. Read, daughter of Edwin M. and Mary S. Read of Perry. Mr. Read was for many years a member of the firm of Read & Andrus and was prominent in the Masonic circles of this part of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Clarke have become the parents of eight children: Josephine, now Mrs. W. R. Roth; Carl Read Clarke, who is associated with his father in the Perry Record; Mary T., the wife of H. C. Smith of Perry; Harriet Louise, who is the wife of I. M. Hawley, an official of the State Agricultural School in Utah, located at Logan; Janet, who died at the age of twelve; Theodore, who died when a year old; Edwin M .; and Donald.
For years Mr. Clarke has been one of the foremost figures in the civic life of Perry and a force for community betterment. Not only does he entertain the highest ideals of patriotism, citizenship and personal honor, but he is always to be found aggressively in favor of those movements he believes will promote the moral integrity of the individual and the public consciousness. In this age of restlessness, discontent, frivolity and even of lawlessness, following a world-wide upheaval of social, political and moral forces, Mr. Clarke stands out as one who would progress through the observance of existing laws and respecting of institutions already created for the benefit of mankind. He feels keenly and rightly that there is already in existence in this great nation of ours machinery for the making right of any condition that may be wrong, and that by defying the law or carelessly disregarding it men and women are merely cultivating a general defiance of constituted authority that will make it impossible to enforce the best of laws in time. In a democracy, all depends upon the earnest effort and will of the average citizen to uphold the government and lend his support to the best proposed measures as he sees them. When the ordinary man and woman refuse to accept responsibility for the safety of the state and even endanger it by breaking its laws, the doom of any democratic government is sealed. That Mr. Clarke is no "reactionary" with nineteenth century ideas, is amply proven by the fact that he always favored the more progressive and independent wing of his party and in 1912 was a delegate to the famous convention held on August 5th, to nomi- nate Theodore Roosevelt for President. In his home community he has given freely of his services to things that make for civic uplift. He was president of the Perry school board for five years; president of the local Chamber of Commerce for a period of six years, and for nine years belonged to the Perry fire department. In the First Universalist church he has held the office of chairman of the board of trustees for twenty years. Fraternally Mr. Clarke is a Mason. During the World war he was called upon to assist in all of the more important of the war activities, but was espe- cially prominent as chairman of the Four-Minute men.
GEORGE S. BARTOLD.
George S. Bartold, identified with industrial interests of Rochester for more than two decades, has worked his way steadily upward in the service of the Lorscheider- Schang Company until he is now general manager and director of the corporation, which is extensively engaged in the manufacture of paper boxes and cases. He is a native son of Rochester, born in October, 1883, and is a representative of well known old families of the city, for his parents, George and Louise (Salzer) Bartold, were also born here. The father, a prominent merchant of this city for many years, passed away in 1919. The mother is still living in Rochester. Their family numbered eight children, as follows: George S., of this review; E. C., O. F., Arthur C., Mrs. Cora Robinson, Mrs. Mabel Darling, Mrs. Blanche Consler and Mrs. Florence Howell.
George S. Bartold obtained a public school education in Rochester and was a young man of twenty years when in 1903 he entered the industrial field as an employe of the Lorscheider-Schang Company, manufacturers of paper boxes. Demonstrating
GEORGE S. BARTOLD
.- 4
287
THE GENESEE COUNTRY
his capability and trustworthiness in the faithful discharge of the duties assigned him, he was promoted from one position to another of increased responsibility and importance and as he worked his way through the various departments of the business he became thoroughly familiar therewith both in principle and detail. For a time he represented the company as a salesman and is now its general manager and one of its directors, his efforts contributing in substantial measure to its successful control. The Lorscheider-Schang Company, Incorporated, manufactures only the highest-grade of paper boxes for toilet articles, candies, etc., and its employes are all workmen of skill and experience.
In October, 1913, Mr. Bartold was united in marriage to Miss Florence F. Fox, daughter of Frederick and Pauline Fox. Mr. and Mrs. Bartold have one child: George Robert, who was born in Rochester in 1915 and is attending school. Mr. Bartold for the past decade has been treasurer of the Rochester lodge of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and is a worthy exemplar of the teachings and purposes of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Craftsman Lodge, No. 96, F. & A. M. He is likewise a member of the Rochester Club and the Automobile Club of Rochester and has gained an extensive circle of warm friends in the city which has always been his home.
PAUL BRUCE AEX.
Paul Bruce Aex, secretary of the Central Trust Company of Rochester, New York, was born in Mount Morris, New York, April 12, 1886, a son of Paul and Anna (Baker) Aex. His education was acquired in the schools of Rochester, the Rochester Academy and the Rochester Business Institute. Upon leaving school he entered the law office of George A. Gillette, where he remained for about five years. He was then with the Rochester Top-Lift Company for about two years, when he entered the em- ploy of the Central Trust Company as bookkeeper. In due time he was made teller and in 1915 was promoted to assistant cashier. In 1921 he was elevated to the posi- tion of cashier and secretary. The next year (1922) he was made a member of the board of directors.
On October 12, 1912, Mr. Aex was united in marriage to Miss Emma E. Steiner, daughter of Otto and Elizabeth Steiner of Batavia, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Aex have one son: Paul S., who was born March 9, 1915. Mr. Steiner's residence is at No. 255 Woodbine avenue.
Mr. Aex is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Rochester Club, the Rotary Club of Rochester, the Rochester Chamber of Commerce and the Brook-Lea Country Club. His church affiliations are with St. Stephen's Episcopal church, in which he is one of the vestrymen and holds the office of treasurer. While he takes an interest in public questions, he has never been active in political work. He finds his recreation in outdoor life and sports, though he never neglects his business affairs to indulge in pastimes.
WILLIAM J. MEYER.
William J. Meyer, president of the William J. Meyer Company, is one of the best known men in the sheet metal and roofing business in western New York. A native son of Rochester, he was born on the 10th of October, 1885, his parents being John George and Elizabeth (Gisel) Meyer, both of whom were natives of Switzerland, whence they emigrated to the United States in early life and became residents of Rochester, New York. The father, who was successfully engaged in the clay manu- facturing industry throughout his active business career, died in Rochester in August, 1924. The mother's death was some years previous. They had two children: Mrs. Minnie Gischinger, a resident of Rochester; and William J., of this review.
William J. Meyer obtained his education in the public schools of Rochester, and in starting on his business career entered the employ of the firm of Cunningham Brothers, carriage manufacturers, with whom he learned the sheet metal trade. Later he went to Buffalo, where he secured a position with the Machwirth Brothers Company, in the roofing and sheet metal business and in whose service he continued until his return to Rochester in 1910. It was on the 10th of August of that year that he established the William J. Meyer Company, beginning operations in a modest way. Through the intervening period of fifteen years the enterprise has grown and pros- pered under his able management until it now ranks with the most important sheet
288
THE GENESEE COUNTRY
metal and roofing concerns in this part of the state. Mr. Meyer is the sole owner of the business and is a self-made man whose success has come as the result of his enterprise, energy and clean business methods.
On the 10th of February, 1920, Mr. Meyer was united in marriage to Miss Ger- trude Young, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Young and representative of a highly respected Rochester family. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer have one son: William J., Jr., who was born in Rochester on July 30, 1923. Mr. Meyer belongs to Yonnondio Lodge No. 163, F. & A. M., and is a York Rite Mason who has also attained the thirty- second degree of the Scottish Rite. His name is likewise on the membership rolls of the Rochester Chamber of Commerce and the Builders Exchange of Rochester. In winning advancement in the business world he has at the same time gained the un- qualified esteem and respect of those with whom he has been associated, as is attested by his high standing as both a business man and a citizen. His residence is at No. 68 McKinster street.
EDWARD A. WASHBURN.
Edward A. Washburn, who has been an active representative of the legal pro- fession in Batavia since his admission to the bar in 1889, covering a period of thirty- five years, served on the bench as county judge and surrogate of Genesee county from 1901 until 1918. He was born in Randolph, Vermont, on the 21st of January, 1868, his parents being Julian J. and Martha (Bigelow) Washburn. The family comes of New England ancestry, dating back to the landing of the Mayflower in 1620. In the year 1877 Mr. and Mrs. Julian J. Washburn established their home in Batavia, New York.
Edward A. Washburn, who was a lad of nine years when he came with his parents to Genesee county, attended the public schools in the acquirement of an edu- cation and at the age of seventeen years entered the law office of George Bowen as a student. By the time he attained his majority he had qualified for law practice, being admitted to the bar in 1889. Through the intervening years he has gained a position of well-merited distinction as an attorney of Batavia and has been accorded a client- age of increasing volume and importance. Judicial honors came to him when he was elevated to the county bench in 1901, and his record as county judge and surrogate of Genesee county through the succeeding eighteen years is one of which he may well be proud. His opinions while on the bench showed great research, industry and care and challenged the approval of and commended themselves to the bench and the bar. Since his retirement from his judicial position his practice has been limited to cor- porate work and the management of estates and similar matters, and he rarely ap- pears in court. Judge Washburn is a factor in financial circles as vice president of the First National Bank of Batavia and a director of the Bank of Elba, at Elba, Genesee county.
On the 6th of May, 1896, Judge Washburn was united in marriage to Miss Frances Virginia Marsh, daughter of James P. and Frances (Davis) Marsh of Chicago, Illinois. Judge and Mrs. Washburn have one daughter: Rowena Marsh Washburn.
ALBERT C. OLP.
Active in state and local politics, a lawyer with large practice who has been honored with state appointments, descendant of one of the oldest families of Livingston county, Albert C. Olp of Mount Morris handles a most extensive and important law practice. He was born at Mount Morris, on August 31, 1876, the son of John and Elizabeth (McKelvey) Olp. In 1831 Daniel Olp moved with his family to Livingston county from Mansfield, Warren county, New Jersey, and settled on land which he had previously purchased in the town of Mount Morris. The long journey was made by team, and Daniel Olp's first home in his new location was a log cabin. His only son, John, succeeded to the property and became a very successful farmer. John Olp was married on November 26, 1845, to Eliza Rockfellow, who died August 28, 1859, leaving two sons and two daughters. He was married in 1865, to Elizabeth McKelvey, by whom he had two sons: Frank J. and Albert C. of this review. Their mother passed away on June 7, 1894. Frank J. Olp was drowned in the Genesee river on July 11, 1889.
Albert C. Olp was educated in the public schools of Mount Morris and graduated
4
ALBERT C. OLP
18-Vol. IV
291
THE GENESEE COUNTRY
from the high school in 1895, after which he entered the law office of the late J. M. Hastings, where he studied law until February, 1899, when he was admitted to the bar. Mr. Olp remained with Mr. Hastings as managing clerk until April 1, 1900, when he opened an office for himself in Mount Morris. On January 1, 1907, he began two years of service as deputy in the office of the attorney-general at Albany and on the conclusion of this service opened an office in Rochester. Mr. Olp is engaged the greater part of the time in Rochester but maintains as well his practice and clientage at Mount Morris.
Mr. Olp is one of the organizers of the Livingston County Bar Association and is a member of the Monroe County Bar Association. He was a candidate for the assem- bly against James W. Wadsworth, present United States senator, in 1909, but was defeated. Mr. Olp was chairman of the Livingston county democratic committee for ten years and for six years was a member of the New York State Democratic com- mittee. In 1924 he was a delegate to the Democratic National convention and was very active in the support of the candidacy of Governor Alfred E. Smith for president. He served as a member of the Hudson-Fulton Commission from 1907 to 1909. Mr. Olp is a past master of Mount Morris Lodge No. 122, F. & A. M .; a past high priest of Mount Morris Chapter No. 137, R. A. M .; and a member of Cyrene Commandery No. 39, K. T. In religion he is a member of the Presbyterian church.
On April 14, 1914, Mr. Olp was married to Mabel Watson of Albany, New York, and their only child is Mary Frances Olp.
CHARLES. A. VAN ARSDALE.
Charles A. Van Arsdale is at the head of one of the sound financial institutions of the Genesee country as president of the Bank of Castile, with which he has been continuously identified during the past quarter of a century and of which he has been the chief executive officer since 1917. The town of Castile numbers him among her leading and representative native sons, for it was here that he was born on the 24th of November, 1878, his parents being James H. and Clara A. R. (Davis) Van Arsdale. For more than three decades James H. Van Arsdale was successfully engaged in the furniture and undertaking business in Castile, where he passed away on the 11th of November, 1921, the community thus sustaining the loss of one of its highly esteemed and substantial citizens.
In the acquirement of an education Charles A. Van Arsdale attended the gram- mar and high schools in the place of his nativity, and in 1899, upon attaining his majority, he entered the service of the Bank of Castile in the capacity of bookkeeper. As he demonstrated his ability and trustworthiness in the faithful discharge of the duties assigned him, he was advanced from one position to another of increased responsibility and importance until in 1917 he assumed the presidency of the insti- tution and has remained at its head to the present time. The Bank of Castile had its inception in 1868 as a branch of the Bank of Avon. The following year it became the property of George F. Pierce and Giles A. Davis, who purchased it for their sons, Henry A. Pierce and Edward Davis. These gentlemen conducted the institution as a private bank until the death of Edward Davis in 1871, after which Giles A. Davis was an associate of Henry A. Pierce until his own demise in 1897. Davis E. Van Arsdale, who succeeded Giles A. Davis in the latter year, remained active in the conduct of the bank until he disposed of his interests therein in 1902. J. Harry Van Arsdale, who became connected with the institution following his graduation from Lafayette College, has been continuously identified therewith to the present time as the successor of Henry A. Pierce, who filled the position of cashier from 1869 until his death in 1917. It was in 1917 that the Bank of Castile became a state insti- tution, with the following officers: Charles A. Van Arsdale, president; Mrs. James H. Van Arsdale and Robert Holmes, vice presidents; J. Harry Van Arsdale, cashier; and Roy P. Kellogg, assistant cashier. The above named have remained in office to the present time. The Bank of Castile, which has a capital of thirty-five thousand dollars, with surplus of seven thousand dollars and undivided profits of eleven thous- and dollars, serves more than two thousand people in this section.
On the 28th of December, 1905, in Castile, New York, Charles A. Van Arsdale was united in marriage to Miss Alice E. Phillips, daughter of William D. and Augusta (Paige) Phillips of Castile. Mr. and Mrs. Van Arsdale have one child: Vera A., who was born on the 17th of February, 1908, and is attending school in Castile.
292
THE GENESEE COUNTRY
.
Mr. Van Arsdale supports the democratic party where national questions and issues are involved but at local elections casts an independent ballot. He is a con- sistent member of the Presbyterian church, of which he is a trustee, and he also belongs to the Perry Club, to the Firemen's Club of Castile and to the Silver Lake Country Club. He is a member of the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society and is executive secretary of the Letchworth Park committee of that organ- ization. He is fond of outdoor sports, particularly golf and shooting, which afford him pleasurable recreation and bring renewed zest for the duties of the banking business. He enjoys an extensive and favorable acquaintance throughout the com- munity in which his life has been spent.
HORACE I. KENDALL.
For more than a quarter of a century the name of Horace I. Kendall has figured prominently in commercial circles of Rochester in connection with the insurance business and also in the real estate field. He was born in Titusville, Pennsylvania, on the 6th of May, 1876, a son of Christopher A. and Julia (Cross) Kendall, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of New Hampshire. The father removed to Pennsylvania in the early '60s and became superintendent of a machine shop in Titus- ville, where his death occurred, but the mother passed away in Rochester.
Horace I. Kendall obtained his education in the grammar and high schools of his native town and in 1898, when a young man of twenty-two, he entered the general insurance business in Rochester. He has since been engaged in that line of business and is numbered among the representative insurance men of the city. Mr. Kendall's real estate activities have been resultant factors in the city's development. He is president of the Rochester Rebuilders Realty Company, the Kenwell Realty Company and the New Street Realty Company, while he is also treasurer of the Rochester Motor Terminal Company. He is regarded as an able business man, capable of grasp- ing the possibilities of a situation, and conducts his affairs in a manner that has acquired a large and highly desirable clientele.
On the 5th of April, 1905, Mr. Kendall was married to Miss Nellie A. Vayo, a daughter of Charles A. and Adele E. Vayo of Rochester. Mr. and Mrs. Kendall have four sons: Charles H., John C., Don V. and Paul C. Mr. Kendall is a trustee of the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary and a trustee of the Blocher Homes for the Aged in Williamsville, New York. He is a York and Scottish Rite Mason and is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal church. He belongs to the Rochester Chamber of Com- merce and also the Washington Club. His long connection with the business and civic life of Rochester has brought him a wide acquaintanceship throughout the city and many of his best friends are those who have known him the longest. Mr. Ken- dall's residence is on Thomas avenue, Irondequoit.
THEODORE W. FINCH.
Theodore W. Finch, who until recently was operating in Rochester as head of the Finch Motor Car Company, manufacturers of special bodies for a popular motor car, and who is now engaged in the real estate business in that city, was born on a farm in Tompkins county, New York, June 28, 1885, and is a son of Frank A. and Ada (Slaght) Finch, the latter of whom, born in that same county, died in Trumansburg, New York, in 1898. Frank A. Finch, who now is engaged as a building contractor in Seneca county, also is a native of New York state, born in the city of Elmira. He formerly was engaged in farming in Tompkins county but for years past has been living in Seneca county. He has three children: Theodore W., of this review; Mrs. Catherine Adams, of Auburn, New York; and Harlan S. Finch, of Seneca Castle, New York.
Theodore W. Finch was but thirteen years of age when his mother died. His father later moved with his family to Seneca county and Theodore W. completed his education by two years work in high school in the latter county. As a young man he became engaged as a traveling salesman for a Cincinnati (Ohio) cigar company but found that an unprofitable connection and presently gave it up. In 1906, the year in which he attained his majority, he returned to Rochester with one dollar and twenty-five cents as his net capita! and began working in the collar manufacturing
HORACE I. KENDALL
295
THE GENESEE COUNTRY
plant of Cluett, Peabody & Company in that city. For two years Mr. Finch continued this connection and then transferred his services to the retail store of the New Eng- land Furniture Company in Rochester and for ten years thereafter was connected with that concern as a salesman.
In 1917 Mr. Finch became western New York distributor of special bodies for the Ford automobile and started in a modest way to carry out this plan with a small service station in Rochester. The enterprise proved successful and in 1919 he ex- panded the business by organizing the Finch Motor Car Company and in his extended plant at No. 208 Court street he developed quite a business along this line, displaying no fewer than eight different styles of bodies for Fords and creating a wide market for his products. In May, 1924, Mr. Finch took over the local distribution of a special spring (the Hyde) for automobiles and began to create a market for that com- modity hereabout. He also for some time had been giving his incidental attention to the development of what gave promise of being a profitable real estate connection in Rochester, and in July, 1924, he sold his interest in the special body business he had built up and which as the Finch Motor Car Company has come to be a well established concern in Rochester, and has since been giving his whole attention to his rapidly developing real estate business and to the local distribution of the Hyde spring, with well appointed offices and salesroom at No. 523 Court street. Mr. Finch is a member of the United Commercial Travelers and has a wide acquaintance in trade circles throughout western New York.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.